#1
Christina Marie Elise Sablan / Leila Haveia Fleming Clark Staffler (D)
| Name: |
| Christina-Marie Elise Sablan (D) |
| Village: |
| Susupe |
| Highest level of education: |
| Master’s degree in urban and regional planning |
| Professional experience: |
| Active in public service for nearly 20 years as a CNMI lawmaker, U.S. congressional staffer, journalist, health and environmental advocate, and citizen. First elected to the CNMI legislature in 2007, and again in 2018 and 2020. Chairs the House Committee on Health & Welfare. Championed bills to restore the Earned Income Tax Credit (became law in June 2021), and to reform medical referral, expand access to mental healthcare, raise the minimum wage and strengthen worker protections, update tobacco tax laws, and improve protections for LGBTQ people. Appointed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s advisory panel on local governments/small communities, representing the territories. Testified before a U.S. congressional committee urging for equitable treatment of the territories in Medicaid, SNAP, and SSI. Currently National Committeewoman of the NMI Democratic Party. |
| 1.) How can your administration help revive the local economy? |
| Leila and I believe that small businesses and a strong, competitive workforce are the heart of a healthy economy. True economic development lifts people out of poverty, generates good jobs, and creates pathways for everyone to prosper. As we know from the current administration, failing to plan, and failing to fairly enforce the law, hinders economic development for everyone. A Sablan-Staffler administration will be different: diligent in planning, and faithful to the law. Our economic plans include increasing local participation in tourism, and fostering investments in other industries that are compatible with tourism, promote sustainability, and provide security. We will also roll out a robust workforce development program, to include apprenticeships and our Marianas Jobs Now Initiative that will match people seeking jobs or training with the institutions offering opportunities. |
| 2.) How can you reduce the costs of government? |
| Our administration will reduce the costs of government by stopping the bleeding that is happening now. No more questionable and wasteful sole-sourced contracts. No more illegal first-class travel on taxpayer dime. Leila and I will drive our own cars and pay our own utility bills.
Expensive fossil fuels drain more than $50M from the CNMI every year; the time to transition to a cleaner, more efficient energy future is now. We will direct an energy audit of the government, including vehicles, and track our progress in meeting efficiency targets. We will also update the CNMI’s energy action plan, set ambitious renewable energy targets, and invest in renewables. Another cost-saving measure we will direct is to accelerate our transition to e-government, which will save time and money for government and constituents. |
| 3.) Do you consider yourself a tax-and-spend candidate? |
| Leila and I are candidates who value fiscal responsibility. We will lead by example, and safeguard public funds for public purposes. And we will act with urgency to get our finances in order after nearly seven years of deficits and reckless spending in the current administration.
We believe public funds should be prioritized for investments in education, health, and critical infrastructure. We support sensible taxation policies beginning with effective enforcement and collection, to ensure that everyone pays their fair share. We will also take an evidence-based approach to taxation in support of a healthier community – for example, to reduce tobacco use, and better support healthcare. We will not support excessive tax breaks and other forms of corporate welfare that have been doled out in the past to favored investors. |
Leila Staffler
| Name: |
| Leila Staffler |
| Village: |
| Kagman 3 |
| Highest level of education: |
| Master of science in Educational leadership |
| Professional experience: |
| To date, thousands of public-school students have been the direct beneficiaries of Leila’s passion for education and learning. She spent nearly 10 years in the classroom as a teacher in the public education system. Then Leila spent more than 10 years as an administrator at Kagman High School. Leila has used her extensive experience to strengthen public education in the Marianas by successfully running for election to the Commonwealth House of Representatives, where she represents Saipan’s Precinct 5. She chairs the House Education Committee, and the SNILD Zoning Committee and is Vice-Chair of the House Committee on Health and Welfare. In addition to her work as a legislator, Leila is also part of the CNMI State Apprenticeship Expansion Advisory Committee, Blue Ribbon Consortium Developmental Disabilities Council Transition Coalition. |
| 1.) How can your administration help revive the local economy? |
| To get right down to it, Tina and I would start with the following steps: 1) Investments in education and training, healthcare, and infrastructure are all about economic development that will lift everyone up. 2) Strengthening the workforce by building robust apprenticeship programs; updating wage laws to raise the wage and strengthen worker protections; implementing the Marianas Jobs Now and Come Home Initiatives which can be found in our platform at Sablanstaffler.com. 3) Make the government more accessible to businesses and the community – accelerating the transition to e-govt; training in customer service and cross-training so that more than one person can provide assistance in a particular area; streamline and expedite permitting and online renewals from drivers licensing to business licensing. |
| 2.) How can you reduce the costs of government? |
| Tina and I believe that we can reduce the cost of government by combating public corruption – corruption steals from everyone, and there is a cost – from the tangible to the intangible. Corruption affects our economy. Investors want to ensure their investment is safe. A SablanStaffler administration will prioritize ethics training across the government, support whistleblower legislation updates. And most especially, you can expect political intimidation to end. A lot of the efficiency and turnaround in the workforce of the government can be pinpointed to good employees losing motivation to be their best when they see others taking advantage. When people are transferred for retaliation purposes, we lose the investment in the years of experience and training spent in service. No one should not be afraid of their government. |
| 3.) Do you consider yourself a tax-and-spend candidate? |
| Tina and I are candidates who value fiscal responsibility. We will lead by example, and safeguard public funds for public purposes. And we will act with urgency to get our finances in order after nearly seven years of deficits and reckless spending in the current administration.
We believe public funds should be prioritized for investments in education, health, and critical infrastructure. We support sensible taxation policies beginning with effective enforcement and collection, to ensure that everyone pays their fair share. We will also take an evidence-based approach to taxation in support of a healthier community – for example, to reduce tobacco use, and better support healthcare. We will not support excessive tax breaks and other forms of corporate welfare that have been doled out in the past to favored investors. |
#2
Arnold Indalecio Palacios / David Mundo Apatang (I)
| Name: |
| Arnold Indalecio Palacios (I) |
| Village: |
| (Not provided) |
| Highest level of education: |
|
Bachelor of Science |
| Professional experience: |
| 12th ELECTED LT. GOVERNOR OF THE CNMI (4 YEARS); SENATOR (4 YEARS) Floor Leader, 19th CNMI Legislature; Vice President, 19th CNMI Legislature President, 20th CNMI Legislature; SECRETARY, DLNR (3 YEARS) REPRESENTATIVE (8 YEARS) Precinct 3, CNMI House of Representatives Speaker, 16th CNMI Legislature DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF FISH & WILDLIFE (12 YEARS) |
| Name: |
| David Mundo Apatang (I) |
| Village: |
| (Not provided) |
| Highest level of education: |
|
(Not provided) |
| Professional experience: |
| MAYOR OF SAIPAN (8 YEARS) REPRESENTATIVE (10 YEARS) Precinct 1, CNMI House of Representatives COUNCILMAN (2 YEARS) Saipan Northern Islands Municipal Council STATE DIRECTOR (6 YEARS – GS-15/01 E) U.S. Selective Service System CHIEF OF PROCUREMENT & SUPPLY & ACTING DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING (9 YEARS) Department of Finance INFANTRY COMBAT VETERAN, 1SG (20 YEARS-RETIRED) |
| 1.) How can your administration help revive the local economy? |
| My administration will emphasize in prioritizing the Military, Tourism and Covenant funding. We will work closely with the military on the Tinian divert field, open CMAC office on Tinian with full participating Tinian residence and CPA. Re-open the PTAC office to help our local businesses capitalize on all DOD and Federal Projects and lastly work with Kilili in finally establishing a Commonwealth National Guard Unit. Reinvigoration and Expand our Tourism Industry. We will invest in the repair and improvement of our dilapidated tourist sites and capitalize on various tourist destination such as Eco, Gaming, Wellness and much more. Reinforce our efforts to expand our current covenant funding levels. Revisit our covenant funding mechanisms to broaden our grant funding research and availability. Develop locally based industries such as farming and fishing and support our local entrepreneurs. |
| 2.) How can you reduce the costs of government? |
| Within the first 100 days of our administration, we will open the books, review the books and report on our financial status. Having a clear picture of our financial status from local generated funds, federal grants and other grants such are ARPA and Cares will enable us chart the necessary course to bring this commonwealth back on track of being fiscally responsible and accounted. There are many ways to reduce the cost of government to include cutting unnecessary costs such as travel, use of technology during our covid pandemic ensured that the CNMI programs were in contact with the outside world. Right sizing is also another way to reduce costs. |
| 3.) Do you consider yourself a tax-and-spend candidate? |
| No. Increasing taxes for the purpose of spending more is not being fiscally prudent most especially in government. I’m a believer that the government should create programs to stimulate businesses which in turn will stimulate the current t tax base. The CNMI should also open new industries in the CNMI to replace lost industries. The CNMI should use its covenant funding to create projects such as infrastructure improvement and expansion. |
#3
Ralph Anthony Deleon Guerrero Torres / Vinnie Vinson Flores Sablan (R)
| Name: |
| Ralph Anthony Deleon Guerrero Torres (R) |
| Village: |
| (Not provided) |
| Highest level of education: |
|
Bachelor of Science in Political Science, Boise State University |
| Professional experience: |
| 9th Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (2016-Current) 10th Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (2015) Senate President of the 18th Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature Chairman of the Committee on Health and Welfare in the 17th Northern Marianas Commonwealth House of Representatives |
| Name: |
| Vinnie Vinson Flores Sablan (R) |
| Village: |
| (Not provided) |
| Highest level of education: |
|
High School Diploma: Marianas High School & Lakes High School (Tacoma, Washington) Associates Degree in Business Administration & Computer Applications: Northern Marianas College Bachelors of Science Degree in Management: University of Phoenix |
| Professional experience: |
|
Career: Public Service: |
| 1.) How can your administration help revive the local economy? |
| The CNMI’s current economy is heavily reliant on access to tourism markets. With limited resources to support a larger manufacturing or export market, the inflows of tourism dollars provide the needed external funding to promote employment, business development and growth. Reviving the economy from the dramatic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemics requires us to focus on the existing infrastructure available for economic activity while maximizing our resources. That is why we have supported and continue to support the investment of our resources into the resumption of tourism activities. We have seen historic successes with the region’s first successful travel bubble with South Korea, the reinstitution of direct air service to Japan through United, and the creation of new source markets through Northern Marianas Airways and their planned direct service to Australia. We are also promoting to advance our islands infrastructure through redevelopment of tourist sites, the rehabilitation and expansion of our roadways as we see in the development of Beach Road and the creation of the Route 36 cross-island connection, the Garapan Revitalization Project and its successful awarding of $11.2 million to enhance the Garapan Core district. These plans rely on a rejuvenated private sector of entrepreneurs, that is why we are excited for the surge of interest in the BOOST Program that has targeted $10 million in direct awards to small businesses to start, grow, and succeed in the post-pandemic era of CNMI development. We are also in the final stages of launching our Energov E-government online platform to streamline government permitting and business licensure into an online portal. This is on top of the successful implementation of online filing of business gross revenue taxes. |
| 2.) How can you reduce the costs of government? |
| The correct time to reduce the expenses of the government is during economic growth. At this time, following the greatest economic collapse the CNMI has ever witnessed coupled with the surge of federal funding needed to be expended within the next year, it is the government’s role and responsibility to expend available funds to mitigate the loss of our only industry. The expenses being made today are necessary for our recovery and go to support the individuals and businesses that need to survive and grow to ensure government revenues can rebuild to support government services when the federal aid expires. This is not to say that, once recovered, we must not be responsible stewards of government resources. Already, we have made significant steps to reduce the cost of government. The expansion of the police force reduces the need for our police force in the front lines to work beyond the 40-hour work schedule. Investments we are making into our healthcare system in the purchase of new facilities and equipment like MRI machines and hyperbaric chambers will reduce the need for medical referrals by 70%. The expansion and growth of the private sector, and the continuation of the rapid increase in per hour wages across the CNMI (growing 65% since 2014) will create more opportunities for the private sector to support the hiring of new workers. One significant way in which government expenditures can go farther is to continue to advocate for amendments to federal law that are increasing the cost to the government to support the development of critical infrastructure. |
| 3.) Do you consider yourself a tax-and-spend candidate? |
| The ability for any government to tax the productivity of its community should be enacted with the seriousness it deserves. Our government can only operate through revenues derived from taxes. These taxes are a cost to employers, employees, and every resident of the CNMI. Increasing tax revenues is not the sole definition of “revenue generating.” Revenue generation comes best from economic growth. The more businesses that development, grow and generate income the larger the total impact is for us all, including the government. In 2016 and 2017, when the CNMI’s economy grew at a faster rate than anywhere else in the world, we saw the largest government budgets in generations without increasing taxes. This is the path toward revenue generation, and it is a path we are engaged in today. Stimulating the economy, securing new tourism markets, expanding existing markets and creating the ecosystem for business investment and growth all will generate additional revenue without taxes. We support new investment incentives that will allow the CNMI to com- pete in the globally competitive market for new industries that will hire and build new sources of revenue directly and indirectly through their investments. And once we generate higher revenues through a growing economy we should spend it wisely — supporting payments to our retirees, our education system, and investments into our infrastructure and roadways just as we did over the last 6 years. |
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