Benigno R. Fitial

Infobox Governor
name = Benigno Fitial


caption =
order =6^th
office = Governor of Northern Mariana Islands
term_start = January 9, 2006
term_end =
lieutenant = Timothy P. Villagomez
predecessor = Juan N. Babauta
successor = Incumbent
birth_date = birth date and age|1945|11|27
birth_place = Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
religion = Roman Catholic
residence = Saipan
spouse = Josie Fitial
alma_mater = University of Guam
profession = Manufacturing Executive
party = Covenant Party

Benigno Repeki Fitial (born November 27 1945) is the current governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Fitial was elected on November 6, 2005 and assumed office on January 9, 2006. He previously served as CNMI House Speaker. Fitial is a former member of the Republican Party, but is now an active member of the Covenant Party. cite news |first= |last= |title=Lt. Governor Not Committed To Running For Re-Election, Report Says |url=http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2008/07/03/lt-governor-not-committed-to-running-for-re-election-report-says |work=Marianas Variety |publisher=Pacific Magazine |date=2008-07-03 |accessdate=2008-07-02]

Fitial is a resident and former representative of Precinct 3, which includes parts of Saipan and the northern islands.

Governorship

Fitial is the sixth elected governor of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), having been sworn in during 2006. He defeated incumbent Republican Governor Juan N. Babauta during the 2005 gubarnatorial election with 28.1 percent of the total vote. The 2005 gubernatorial election was the [http://www.pacificislands.cc/pm122005/pmdefault.php?urlarticleid=0004 closest in the history of the Commonwealth] .

Fitial has faced many challenges during his term as governor, including budget shortfalls, a weak economy, and declining Japanese tourism. He implemented a dress code of business attire for all cabinet members shortly after his inauguration. [ [http://www.pacificislands.cc/pm32006/pmdefault.php?urlarticleid=0010 New look for Fitial Cabinet] ]

Many observers and prominent publications (such as the "Marianas Variety") have accused Fitial of concentrating power in his office and making decisions autocratically [http://www.mvariety.com/editorialpage/editorial02.htm] . This includes a decision made to abolish the autonomy of at least two government agencies, with their functions being transferred to the executive [http://archives.pireport.org/archive/2006/february/02%2D03%2Ded2.htm] . The governor and his supporters have asserted that drastic measures need to be taken to cut excessive government spending during the tenure of the previous governor, Juan Babauta [http://archives.pireport.org/archive/2006/january/01%2D13%2D07.htm] . [http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2006/June/06-27-13.htm] .

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2005 Gubernatorial Election Results

Personal life

Born in 1945 and raised in a Satawalese family, Fitial graduated with honors from Saipan's Mt. Carmel High School in 1964. He also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis on business management from the University of Guam. According to his official website, he is recognized as a University of Guam [http://net.saipan.com/cftemplates/executive/index.cfm?pageID=6 "Distinguished Alumni"] .

Fitial is the first elected Northern Mariana governor of Carolinian decent. [http://www.pacificislands.cc/pm122005/pmdefault.php?urlarticleid=0004] The Carolinians are a minority group whose ancestors immigrated to the Northern Marianas in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, from the Yap and Chuuk islands groups of what is now the Federated States of Micronesia. Chamorros are the majority indigenous group on the Northern Marianas and a Chamorro has tended to win in past elections.

The Governor is married to Josie Fitial; the couple have two children. Fitial describes himself as a "good friend" of convicted US Lobbyist Jack Abramoff, which has caused some controversy in both the Commonwealth and Washington. As vice president of Tan Holdings, Fitial worked closely with Abramoff, who was a consistant client of the family textile conglomerate [http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2006/June/06-27-13.htm] .Politics of the Northern Marianas

Work Experience

*Government:
**Speaker of the House of Representatives, 3rd, 12th, & 14th NMI Legislature
**Vice Speaker, 5th NMI Legislature
**Minority Leader, 2nd and 4th NMI Legislature
**Chief Administrative Officer, 1st NMI Legislature
**Budget Officer, 1st NMI Legislature
**Budget Analyst, Trust Territory Government
**News Director, KJQR Radio Station

*Business:
**President, Bank of Saipan
**Vice President, Tan Holdings Corporation
**Special Consultant, L&T Corporation
**President, Century Insurance Corporation
**President, Century Travel Corporation
**President, Consolidated Transportation Services Inc. (CTSI)
**President, Pacific Oriental Inc. (POI)
**President, Home Improvement (MPI)

*Politics & Civic Contributions:
**Founder, CNMI Covenant Party
**Chairman, Northern Marianas Republican Party
**Chairman, Bush for President Committee for the CNMI
**Chairman, CNMI Zoning Board
**Chairman, NMI Trusteeship Termination Task Force
**Chairman, 1st CNMI Civil Service Commission
**Chairman, Saipan Municipal Scholarship Board
**Member, CNMI Tax Task Force
**Member, Republican Presidential Task Force (US)
**Delegate, 1st Northern Marianas Constitutional Convention
**Chairman, Constitutional Convention Committee(s) on Tax, Public Debt, Education, & Local Government

References

External links

* [http://net.saipan.com/cftemplates/executive/index.cfm?pageID=1 Office of the Governor, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands]
** [http://net.saipan.com/cftemplates/executive/index.cfm?pageID=6 Biography of Gov. Benigno R. Fitial]
* [http://www.pacificislands.cc/pm32006/pmdefault.php?urlarticleid=0010 Pacific Magazine: "The Business Governors": The Inauguration of Gov. Benigno Fitial and Lt. Gov. Timothy Villagomez]
* [http://www.cnmicovenant.com/ Covenant Party Site]

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