Rayphand winds down term as OVR director

“Trying to wrap up my final days of work,” said James “Jim” Rayphand as his resignation as Office of Vocational Rehabilitation director takes effect today, Aug. 30.

His resignation as OVR director comes after he submitted his candidacy for U.S. delegate in the 2024 general elections on Nov. 5.

Rayphand was busy clearing up his workload the past few weeks, which made him not attend the ballot selection at the Commonwealth Election Commission on Aug. 20. He had his campaign treasurer represent him.

“I only heard about the schedule the day before and I hadn’t requested for leave, so I asked my friend and campaign treasurer, John Cabrera, to represent our team…John drew No. 4, so I should be No. 4 on the ballot,” said Rayphand.

According to Rayphand, he pondered the idea of running for Congress for months leading up to the decision.

“But I only made the definitive, final decision to jump into the race approximately one week before the submission deadline with the election commission. We started and were able to collect well over the needed number of signatures for our petition to get on the ballot within that time thanks to all willing to lend their signatures to the process and to my closest family and friends who help to collect them as such.”

Rayphand, who is running as an independent candidate, expressed his strong belief in being free from party politics.

“I like being able to say what I feel needs to be said without concern for, need to tow any party lines and I particularly like being able to speak out against or in support of candidates based on their individual stances and my direct impressions of them regardless of party affiliations.”

He added that he has the requisite experience, mindful understanding, and proven track record of what it takes to effectively run an office for, by, and for the people of the CNMI.

Rayphand primarily hopes to bring added choice for the voters, a choice that is reflective of factions within our island community that may not otherwise be represented by my fellow candidates.

The 52-year-old Rayphand is a father of four Indigenous children of the CNMI.

Rayphand has earned two masters degrees in Education, one with an emphasis on Administration and Supervision from the University of Guam and another with a major in English from Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia.

Aside from various side jobs and various challenges over the years, he eventually became a teacher and school administrator at San Vicente Elementary School. He advocates for people with disabilities and oversaw federal grant programs as the former director of Northern Marianas Protection and Advocacy Systems, Inc.

He became a small business owner between 2020 to 2022 for which he spent about a year as a full-time commercial fisherman on Saipan. He was appointed member of Gov. Arnold I. Palacios’ Cabinet as OVR director in February,2023.

Rayphand’s platforms include economic prosperity, educational excellence, domestic security, and cultural preservation. Bearing in mind that these issues dovetail and are interwoven with each other, and cannot be seen as stand-alone issues, he said.

Asked about his plans after Aug. 30,”I’ll likely be resorting to night fishing as a source of income during this time and immediately after the election—and, hopefully I can get to the work of the people in Washington, D.C. come January,” said Rayphand.

Jim Rayphand is a former director of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and Northern Marianas Protection and Advocacy Systems Inc.