CNMI's long-serving congressman Gregorio Sablan bids adieu

Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan officially said goodbye to his constituents in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) during a townhall meeting last Wednesday on Saipan.

"I will miss the work sometimes, but it is with sadness that I leave this job that has been the honor of my lifetime," he said.

"But the Bible tells us that every man has his season, and now is the time to give way to a new generation of leadership. Any sadness I feel is washed away by my gratitude that the people of the Marianas trusted me to work for you all over the last 16 years," he said.

Sablan admitted when he became the CNMI's first delegate to the US Congress he did so knowing that only a little over a quarter of the voters elected him.

"I was first elected with 27 percent of the vote in 2008, hardly a landslide. So, in addition to having established our very first Marianas office in the US, I did so knowing most voters wanted someone else to represent them. No pressure. Because we never had representation in Congress, none of us really knew what that position could accomplish."

The eight-term congressman said his first priority once he came to Washington DC was to deal with the CNMI transitioning under US immigration control in 2008.

"There was one obvious and immediate problem; making the transition to federal control of immigration as less difficult as possible. Voters seemed relatively satisfied re-electing me, and of course some ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) money that came re-electing me with 43 percent of the vote in 2010. Still less than the majority, much less a landslide."

The immigration issue aside, Sablan said he set two other goals during his initial times in office: make sure the Commonwealth was included in many programs where it was being overlooked and bring respect to the Marianas through his personal conduct in office.

"Was I successful? Did I get these done? The Commonwealth is certainly included in more programs now than when I was first elected. The Congressional Office helped get over $60 million in earmarks for projects in the Marianas, large and small. And we made sure the Marianas were cared for with billions of dollars after the Great Recession, and when typhoons struck and the pandemic killed our economy."

He, however, acknowledged that the work for the CNMI in US Congress is not complete and he now passes the baton to delegate-elect Kimberlyn King-Hinds.

"I know there is much left to do to legislatively to put our Commonwealth on par with the rest of the United States. And I know we all wish our new delegate-elect, I truly wish you success in reaching those goals during your time in office."

Sablan believes the image of the CNMI improved during the past 16 years he served as CNMI delegate.

"Most members of Congress now know that Marianas exist and think of our hardworking congressional officers first, not past abuses and corruption. It is some time since another member called us a colony. Again, I know we all hope our new delegate will earn the respect of her colleagues in Congress, and by doing so, she will also bring respect to our islands and our people."

During the townhall meeting, Sablan took the time to acknowledge the NMI Museum of History and Culture for opening an exhibit about his 16 years in the US House of Representatives.

"In the days to come I hope the people of the Marianas will have a chance to see me succeeding as their first delegate to Congress and will take inspiration from what can be accomplished with trust, hard work, and dedication. I also hope to show my gratitude in the years to come by continuing to contribute to the welfare of our community."

Sablan ended by joking that after the townhall, no one should ask him about politics again.

"So, I'm going to drop the mic and nobody can discuss business with me from here, OK?"

'From a pedigree of Kilili'

Prior to Sablan's speech, Sen Celina Babauta led the CNMI Legislature in handing the delegate a join resolution thanking him for his 16 years of service representing the islands in the US capital.

"Kilili comes from a pedigree of Kilili who are deeply rooted in integrity, accomplishments, and public service," she said.

"Beginning with his grandfather, the late Gregorio Sablon, whose namesake our US delegate bears today, proudly bears today, [Sablan's] work has been a beacon of integrity and dedication to the Northern Marianas community in the halls of US Congress.

"May the road you paved in Washington, D.C. inspire those who follow to lead with our people in their minds and in their heart.

And it is in this spirit that we, the 23rd CNMI Legislature, present this simple token and testament of your invaluable service to our people and our Marianas. Thank you very much for your service, thank you for your honor and your commitment and your sincere gratitude. We look forward to the future of the CNMI."

King-Hinds also honored his would-be predecessor during an interview prior to the townhall.

She said Sablan has done "tremendous things" for the CNMI.

"I'm very cognizant of the big shoes that I have to fill. I hope to continue working on some of the legislations that he's put forward and advocate for some of the things that he's been advocating for over the years.

"I call it unfinished business. But we're also looking to look for new opportunities for the CNMI in terms of just getting the additional resources that we need to be able to, not just the resources, but to advance policies that allows the CNMI to be economically self-sustainable," she added.

King-Hinds, the first woman from the CNMI and Tinian daughter elected to U.S. Congress, also described her past couple of weeks in Washington DC familiarising herself with her incoming job as congresswoman.

"The best that I can describe it going into 'delegate boot camp," as how we now dubbed it, is it was like drinking water out of a firehose. You're getting these, you know, basic, basic trainings, like how to set up the office. But aside and separate from that, you do have the political aspect. And so there are a lot of organizational meetings with the National Republican Party, which I was able to participate in, to elect the speaker and to elect the steering committees that will assist us in our advocacy to get on the committees that we want to be on."

King-Hinds said she also hopes to make her own mark as the CNMI's second-ever delegate in the US Congress.

"Obviously [important] is connecting and building those relationships and getting to know people and just getting people to know that we're not the Marina Islands, but we are the Mariana Islands. So, a lot of it was just, you know, educating folks about who we are, what our challenges are, and getting them to understand the challenges of our district and what are our priorities," she said.