Tina Sablan
TINA Sablan, the Office of the Governor’s special policy advisor and special assistant for climate policy and planning, has resigned.
Her last day at the governor’s office will be on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024.
In an email to the governor’s office staff on Friday, she said: “I want to take this time to thank you all for the great pleasure it’s been working with you these past few years — the outstanding public servants of the CNMI government, our federal partners, our community members and friends in the region.”
In an interview with Marianas Press, Sablan said she provided formal written notice and discussed her decision with Gov. Arnold Palacios a month ago.
“I am departing on very good terms, and I am sad to leave the governor’s office,” Sablan told Marianas Press, adding that she will be splitting her time between the CNMI and Hawai’i for personal reasons and hopes to continue to work in both places.
Saipan Tribune quoted the governor as saying that he is saddened to see a friend and invaluable asset to the administration leave, but he wishes her the best of luck in her future endeavors.
Variety tried but was unable to get a comment from Sablan.
On Tuesday, the governor issued the following statement to Variety:
“Last month, Tina had informed me of her decision to resign strictly due to personal reasons. While we are sad to see her leave, I know that her important and long-lasting contributions to this administration, and more importantly, to the Commonwealth, will continue.
“It’s clear that her impact on environmental stewardship, sustainable practices, reducing government waste, infrastructure modernization, and other initiatives will endure throughout the Commonwealth for many years.
“Our team has been privileged to have worked with her these past two years as she has been an exceptional leader, bringing vision, integrity, and a firm commitment to the growth and development of our islands.
“I want to emphasize that she leaves her position in our administration on amicable terms, with my full support and gratitude. Her decision reflects her desire to pursue new opportunities on and off island, and we look forward to seeing what she accomplishes in this next chapter.
“On behalf of my administration, we thank her for her service and wish her every success in the future. Our paths may diverge for now, but our mission and our goals for the CNMI continue to be aligned.”
The Democratic Party’s gubernatorial candidate in 2022, Sablan finished third and supported Palacios in the runoff.
As the newly elected governor, Palacios appointed Sablan as his senior policy advisor early in 2023, and as special assistant for climate policy and planning in September 2023.
Sablan also chaired the committee-to-elect of the administration’s candidate for delegate in the 2024 election, House Floor Leader Edwin Propst, who came in second in a five-way race.
