Kilili pledges smooth transition

Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (D-MP) said over the weekend that he has spoken with delegate-elect Kimberlyn King-Hinds and that he has pledged to do everything he can to help her make the transition so there is no gap in service to the people of the CNMI.

The people have chosen King-Hinds to be the CNMI’s next representative in the U.S. Congress, said Sablan, who opted not to seek a historic ninth term as delegate and instead endorsed House of Representatives floor leader Rep. Edwin K. Propst (D-Saipan) to succeed him.

King-Hinds, who ran under the CNMI Republican Party, garnered 4,931 votes or 40% of total votes in the delegate race during the Nov. 5 general elections, according to the Commonwealth Election Commission certified election results.

King-Hinds, a lawyer, is the first woman, first Republican, and first Tinian native to represent the CNMI in the U.S. Congress.

Propst, of the Democratic Party of the Northern Mariana Islands, came in second as he obtained 4,067 votes or 33.27%. Independent candidates John Oliver Gonzales received 2,282 votes, James Michael Raypand got 665 votes, and Liana S. Hofschneider garnered 280 votes.

Sablan in his e-kilili newsletter over the weekend congratulated everyone the voters chose and thanked all “who stood for election–win or lose–and offered their service to the Marianas.”

“You demonstrated your respect for the principle of self-governance that for so long our people were denied. Let us never forget,” Sablan said.

Sablan, who is turning 70 years old this January, became the CNMI’s first elected delegate to the U.S. House in 2008. He is currently serving out his eighth term. During his eight terms in Congress, Sablan either ran unopposed or won through overwhelming votes. In announcing his plan not to seek a ninth term in January 2024, Sablan said the time has come to pass this responsibility to a new representative the people will elect. He thanked the people of the CNMI for giving him what he called “the extraordinary opportunity and most humbling responsibility” of being their voice for over almost 16 years as the representative in the U.S. Congress.