FOR decades, very few women in the Northern Mariana Islands had been able to break through and run viable campaigns for the highest leadership positions. In the 2022 gubernatorial race, Christina “Tina” Marie Elise Sablan and Leila Haveia Fleming Staffler mounted a bid as the Democratic nominees for Governor and Lt. Governor respectively but came up short. Four years prior, Rita Aldan Sablan ran for Lt. Governor as an independent candidate in 2018.
Looking further back, Rita Inos Hocog was the Covenant Party’s nominee for Lt. Governor in 2001, while Bridgida Deleon Guerrero Ichihara received the Democratic nomination for the same position that year. However, none of these women were ultimately able to break what seemed to be an impenetrable ceiling and claim one of the top leadership roles.
That all changed on January 10, 2023, when Edith E. Deleon Guerrero took the oath of office as President of the CNMI Senate, becoming the first woman in the islands’ history to assume this powerful position. Her ascension marked a monumental achievement and watershed moment for women’s leadership. Deleon Guerrero’s pioneering role opened new opportunities, removing longtime barriers and paving the way for more women to achieve higher leadership roles after her.
Overcoming doubts and obstacles
Of course, being the “first” brought its own set of daunting challenges and doubts to overcome. “The challenge that I felt I needed to overcome was whether or not I would be able to sit and steer a predominantly male legislative environment with respect to making decisions that will affect the governance of the CNMI,” Deleon Guerrero explained. As a pioneer, she could not follow in the footsteps of others before her.
A lifetime of preparation
However, Deleon Guerrero’s decades of experience in public service and leadership roles helped prepare her for this moment. Her uncle, Lorenzo Deleon Guerrero, had served as the 13th Governor of the CNMI, providing her an up-close view of leadership from an early age. She had served as Secretary of the CNMI Department of Labor from 2013-2017, becoming the first woman to lead that department as well.
Drawing inspiration from strong women
Deleon Guerrero credited her grandmother Carmen as her greatest inspiration and model for women’s empowerment. “She instilled in me strength, confidence, and emotional intelligence in navigating society that is predominantly shaped for men,” Deleon Guerrero recounted. “Believing in our abilities, having the confidence, and surrounding ourselves with other women of strength, wisdom, and confidence helps build our character and molds us into the woman we want to become.”
A collaborative, unifying approach
Throughout her tenure as Senate President so far, Deleon Guerrero has applied the lessons learned from the strong women in her life. She adopted a collaborative, consensus-building approach to unite the predominantly male members of the Senate body. “I’ve always enjoyed working within people-oriented environments and it became very useful in developing respectful working relationships to achieve what I envisioned for this leadership role,” she said of her strategy.
Impactful legislative achievements
Her sacrifices and hard work have paid off through impactful legislative achievements during her presidency so far. Deleon Guerrero expressed pride in “My ability to work with all is my humble legacy and complemented with legislations that became law or adopted resolutions that led to the creation or shaping of policies and actions that will lead for the betterment of our CNMI and her people.”
Inspiring future generations
As inspiring as her rise has been, Deleon Guerrero knows that her journey is not just for herself but is emblematic of the uplifting of all women in the CNMI. She had this wisdom to impart to those who will follow in her footsteps: “Always love, respect, and believe in yourself. Seek guidance amongst your elders or those that you hold dear to your heart, that gives you meaning and confidence that you are very capable in achieving what you wish to turn into your hard work successes.”
A vision for an equitable future
Looking ahead, Deleon Guerrero sees her presidency as an important first step, but not the ultimate destination. “I deeply seek and wish to see a change in our system where the needs of our people are placed of highest priority so that their economic status can also be improved where it is considered just as deserving as any other and for our children to look forward to a secured and stable future here in our CNMI community,” she stated, outlining her vision for a more equitable and prosperous future for all CNMI residents.
An eternal pioneering legacy
While her tenure will end, Edith Deleon Guerrero’s legacy as a pioneer is etched into the history books. Her determination shattered long-held barriers that had perpetuated gender disparities in CNMI’s highest leadership roles.
In a February 2024 interview, Deleon Guerrero revealed she plans to leave the Democratic Party at the conclusion of her current Senate term. However, this decision should not diminish nor overlook the tremendous impact her pioneering role has had in inspiring and empowering a new generation of girls and young women across the Mariana islands.
Her example proves that with courage, leadership, compassion and dedication to public service, a woman’s ability to enact positive change knows no boundaries. Deleon Guerrero’s rise to CNMI’s first female Senate presidency has cemented her status as a transformative figure and role model for women from all walks of life.
The doors she has kicked down will remain open for those who follow. No longer will young girls across the islands be able to say “no woman has ever held that role before.” Thanks to the unwavering spirit of Edith Deleon Guerrero, the path is forged for more women to join her in the highest levels of CNMI’s governance and leadership in the generations to come.
Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero