SOME say she is too young and inexperienced to be governor, but the Democratic candidate Christina “Tina” M. Sablan doesn’t think so.
“When I first ran for office 15 years ago, my first term in the Legislature, I was pretty young, and I heard critics saying the same thing,” said Sablan who is now 41.
“They said once I was elected, I would become just another old school politician, I would lose my moral compass, I would accept bribes or offer bribes, forget who I was, and vote yes on bills that violated my conscience… It was really a terrible view of public service, in my opinion,” she added.
“I was determined to stay true to my values. I’ve been advocating for good governance and fairness and honesty in government for basically all of my adult life since I returned home to school. And I haven’t wavered from that. I’ve done that as a citizen. I’ve done that as an elected official, and I will continue to lead and be guided by these values.”
Sablan is running with Precinct 5 Rep. Leila Haveia F. Staffler, against the Republican tandem of Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan, and the Independent team of Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang.
Torres, 43, became the youngest CNMI governor at the age of 36. The first CNMI governor, Dr. Carlos Camacho, was 40 when he was sworn in over 44 years ago. A former House speaker and Senate president, Palacios is 67 years old.
Sablan and Palacios participated in the virtual gubernatorial forum hosted recently by the Marianas Agupa radio talk show. Variety learned that Torres, who did not participate in the forum, was on Tinian to attend a funeral.
“How do I respond to people saying that I’m young and inexperienced and not ready to be governor?” Sablan asked. “I’m not that young. I’m 41 years old. Leila is 43. We’re actually about the same age as Ralph Torres, who unfortunately didn’t show up today. But between Leila and me, we have 40 years of experience in public service,” Sablan added.
She noted that Staffler is a seasoned educator who has mentored thousands of students in her career, has led schools, and is now the chair of the House Committee on Education and Welfare.
Sablan said she herself has led and participated in legislative investigations, worked in the U.S. congressional office with federal agencies and constituents, as well as “in the trenches of government.”
She has also collected fisheries data, and is a former small business owner, nonprofit manager, and a broadcast journalist.
“I’m not that young, and I do have a pretty wide range of experience that I would bring to the table as governor. Maybe I look young, and I will take that as a compliment,” she said.
Tina Sablan
