A measure for a congressional delegate’s qualifications

As a matter of historical record and documented testimony to David Sablan’s integrity and ability to work with members when advising Congress it is worthy of note that in 1986 President Ronald Reagan appointed him as a member of the Commission on Federal Laws and charged the commission with making recommendations to the U.S. Congress as to the applicability of federal laws to the NMI.

Since the NMI delegate elected to Congress will not have a vote on any issue relating to the Commonwealth, the individual occupying the NMI’s office in Washington must, of necessity, rely on the power of persuasion to affect a positive outcome on issues beneficial to the people of the islands. It is the only tool the delegate will have and he had better be good at it.

I know of no one better qualified than David M. Sablan to carry out this important task. Should he decide to run for the office—and I for one hope he does but that fact has not yet been made known to me—he is more than capable of making his point to the Commonwealth’s advantage with facts and persuasive logic.

Quite simply, “bluff” won’t cut it in Congress. If a person is going to occupy the time and attention of their congressional colleagues and get the Commonwealth’s point of view across, the delegate must know what he is talking about and do it in a cohesive and comprehensive manner.

David Sablan has the ability to do that while gaining legislative support when and where it’s needed—of that I have every confidence.

Friends, it becomes a quiet, sophisticated and astute, “low-key” ability to influence the decisions of congressional committees by not only hoping committee members hear what is being said but more importantly see what is meant when outlining either the adverse or positive impact—whichever the case may be—as related to a particular issue of importance to the Commonwealth. Particularly so during these trying times.

Such a person must be able to foresee the unanticipated, unintended consequence of federal legislation and work to head off any adverse impact upon the island economy and the lives of its residents.

With the deteriorating economic situation on the islands and the sweeping global and regional changes taking place, the NMI delegate to the U.S. Congress will need much more than family connections. He will need wisdom, intelligence, patience, and an overriding concern for the future well-being of the Commonwealth to get the island’s back on the road to prosperity.

For those too young to remember and others not present at the time, Dave Sablan is one of the father’s of the tourist industry, pioneering the island’s first international hotel in 1973—the Pan Am Intercontinental Inn. I know as I made the initial investment prospectus. He is also the single individual who, in 1973, broke the stranglehold of U.S. policy prohibiting foreign investment in the islands as then exercised under the so-called United Nations “favored nation clause” in the Trusteeship Agreement.

One important thing Dave can bring to Congress is an intimate working knowledge based on his experience throughout the Asia-Pacific rim and the contacts that go with it. Not many members in Congress possess that depth of knowledge with the result that Dave can be a real asset, not only to the NMI but to Congress itself.

Also, I have been told that members of Congress value a colleague’s word above all else. Trust means everything and one’s word is their bond. If David Sablan has one overriding characteristics it’s that he is trustworthy. Thus, in the eyes of those in Congress he would represent the very best in the Chamorro and Carolinian character.

So, think about the above as you measure the abilities of each candidate for the position of nonvoting delegate to Congress. Even if Dave does not run for the office his abilities should be the measure of each of the other candidates.