Propst’s solid record of commitment to public service

It was in February of this year when House floor leader Edwin K. Propst (D-Saipan), with his wife Daisy and their four children by his side, made his announcement to run as the CNMI’s delegate in the U.S. Congress under the Democratic Party of the Northern Mariana Islands’ banner.

The youngest and only son of three children, Propst was born in American Samoa but moved to Saipan when he was just 4 years old and grew up in his family’s home in Susupe. He is the son of the late Ivan Propst, originally from Illinois, and Juanita Palman Propst, originally from the Philippines. Both of Propst’s parents were longtime CNMI educators.

Propst attended Mt. Carmel School then graduated from Marianas High School and the Northern Marianas College before moving on to the University of Hawaii at Manoa where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications. Upon his return to Saipan, he worked in the education field—as an English teacher at Marianas High School, an administrator at Northern Marianas College, and as the Headstart Program manager at the Northern Marianas Public School System, before running for office.

In 2014, despite limited resources and having only a small campaign committee, he ran in Precinct 1 as an independent candidate and placed second out of 17 candidates. Four terms later, Propst has consistently been the top vote-getter in the CNMI’s largest precinct—garnering support from Democrats, independents, and Republicans.

Propst campaigns on his vision for a fiscally responsible government that serves all people, not just the politically-connected elite few. He feels a sense of indebtedness to the people he serves, which prompted his decision to run for U.S. Congress. He knows that the delegate’s role involves representing the entire Commonwealth, including all islands and individuals, regardless of citizenship or political affiliation.

Propst has always expressed his utmost respect to the leadership and accomplishments of the current U.S. delegate, Gregorio Kilili Sablan (D-MP), who has endorsed Propst. “No one can replace Kilili, but with his guidance, I will build on what he has accomplished for the Marianas while also implementing my own ideas that are consistent with the progress Kilili has made. I won’t fix what isn’t broken. With his support, and my team, I will hit the ground running for the betterment of the entire Commonwealth,” Propst said.

Propst believes in the importance of building relationships and finding common ground with others, even if they have different political views. “Kilili is a statesman. He is not a lawyer. Congress is not a courtroom, and delegates don’t need to fight. They need to communicate. That’s my skill set. And telling people who fly all the way over here that 902 talks are untimely or that they are not highly-ranked will not help our agenda. We need to dialogue and work with all of our federal partners who are willing to come here and see our islands for themselves, and who want to help us in Washington, D.C.,” Propst added.

Propst has served the community with honesty and integrity. He has supported families during typhoons and fought corruption most recently in the BOOST hearings. He seeks the U.S. delegate seat because he wants to improve access to quality healthcare and education for the Marianas’ residents, stabilize and strengthen the CNMI’s workforce, and support economic resiliency and growth through federal investments in infrastructure, safe housing, and regional transportation links. He will also push for accountability for the federal resources that are delivered to the Commonwealth, to ensure that they provide the intended benefits and services for the people.

With a decade of public service in the CNMI House of Representatives, proven experience as a legislator, and the endorsements of not only delegate Sablan, but also Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, and Propst’s Democrat and independent colleagues in the Legislature, Propst is committed to representing the Marianas and ensuring that its people’s needs are heard in Congress. “I will listen to you, the people of the Commonwealth, and I will be there for you in Congress. I humbly ask for your vote this election. I am No. 1 on the ballot but you are No. 1 in my heart,” he said.