Rota Mayor Aubry Manglona Hocog is sworn in by Chief Justice Alexandro Castro at the Guma Hustisia on Monday morning.
Associate Judge Joseph James N. Camacho administers the oath of office to Northern Islands Mayor Valentino Nicky Taisacan as his family members look on at the Guma Hustisia on Monday morning.
Tinian and Aguiguan Mayor Edwin Palacios Aldan is sworn in by Justice Perry B. Inos at the Guma Hustisia on Monday morning while the mayor’s wife, Rosita, holds the Bible.
Saipan Mayor RB Camacho delivers his inaugural address at the mayor’s office in Oleai on Monday morning.
ALL four mayors of the CNMI were sworn in Monday, Jan. 9 at the Guma Hustisia in Susupe on Saipan.
The first female elected mayor in Commonwealth history, Rota Republican Mayor Aubry Manglona Hocog, was sworn in at 8 a.m. at the CNMI Supreme Court with Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro administering the oath.
“It is such a very, very humbling experience to be given this opportunity to serve my island community. I will do my best to work with my colleagues in the Rota Municipal Council and the Rota Legislative Delegation to really work hard to improve the quality [of life] and livelihood [of] our people, because our people have voted and deserve nothing but the best,” Hocog said in an interview with Variety after taking her oath of office.
Republican Northern Islands Mayor Valentino Nicky Taisacan was also sworn in at 8 a.m. in Associate Judge Joseph James N. Camacho’s courtroom, but not until after a brief history lesson on oath-taking.
The associate judge said officials raise their right hand to take an oath because in the olden days, the penalty for perjury was a brand on the right hand. When taking an oath, an individual was required to raise their right hand to show that they had not been convicted of perjury in the past, the judge added.
He said the oath of office is mandated by the Constitution, the highest law of the land, and no person, including a government official, is above the law.
Following his swearing-in ceremony, Taisacan told Variety in an interview, “I would like to thank the supporters and most especially the residents of the Northern Islands for trusting me and voting for me.”
Reelected Tinian and Aguiguan Republican Mayor Edwin Palacios Aldan took his oath of office at 7:30 a.m. at the CNMI Supreme Court with Justice Perry Borja Inos administering the oath.
“I’m just really happy that all of these elections are behind us,” Aldan said. “Now we need to start rolling up our sleeves to move forward with a lot of things. The Commonwealth now needs a normal but united leadership, to really pull ourselves out of what we are seeing: the economic crisis, and now we have [Covid-19] coming back…. [But] we’re optimistic about the future, more so [with] the military,” Aldan told Variety.
Independent Saipan Mayor Ramon Jose Blas Camacho held his inaugural ceremony at the Office of the Mayor of Saipan at 8:30 a.m. on Monday.
“I want to be proactive, not reactive,” he said. “This is about the community, about us here in the CNMI…. Together, we can make a difference in our community.”
Mayor Camacho said a community is built on care, understanding, trust, and respect.
“Please join us and let’s all work together. Join me to promote a safe community, safe villages, and a clean island…. Let’s not invite tourists when we’re not equipped. Let’s not invite tourists when we have so many crimes. Let’s not invite tourists when we have eyesores on every corner,” he said.
During his term, Mayor Camacho said he would like to focus on crime prevention by promoting a safe community, addressing inflation by creating sustainable local industries, and encouraging youth participation in local civics programs, all as a unified community.
“Let’s introduce ourselves — who we are and what we are…. My dear people in this municipality, I humbly ask you to please support me, support the community, promote these programs for a safe community, a safe village, and a clean island. I thank you all and I love you all,” he said in closing.
Separate inaugural ceremonies will be held on Rota and Tinian later this month for their new municipal leaderships.
Taisacan, for his part, held a municipal inaugural ceremony at 6 p.m. Monday at the Mariana Lighthouse on Navy Hill.
