JOSEPH CEPEDA REYES

Personal Background
I’m married to a wonderful woman named Evelyn and we are blessed with three children: Joshua, Angela Kay, and Lance Christian. Aside from my time abroad, I’ve lived on our beautiful island of Saipan all my life.

My parents, Jose Mareham Reyes+ (Julio) and Carmen Deleon Guerrero (Nong) Cepeda (Goyu) brought me into this world on Dec. 8, 1964. My eldest sister, Elizabeth, followed, along with Patricia, then our youngest, JoAnne.

Educational Background
After graduating from C.K. Elementary School (now William S. Reyes Elementary), I attended Hopwood Jr. High, moved to Guam, then San Diego, Calif. where I graduated in June of ‘83 from Will C. Crawford High.

Professional Background
I’ve worked in the private sector all my life. Most recently as an account manager for Marianas CableVision. Prior to that I was an account executive for KCNM & KZMI radio.

But it was as the ‘Nitehawk’—operations manager for POWER 99 that I truly enjoyed the world of entertaining and selling. I’ve also been fortunate to have worked in the tourism industry as a bartender for Puti’on Saipan. My work experience includes custom home construction and commercial tilt-up buildings. I also owned and operated (with my family) STOP-N-GO in San Antonio.

Civic Involvement
My civic duties have brought me in touch with our youths through the Saipan Youth Football League as a volunteer official, coach and advisor. I’ve also donated my time and services to various community events and special programs such as the 1995 Miss CNMI Pageant and other worthwhile causes to assist our youths and the community.

Q. What would you consider the top three issues or concerns facing the CNMI that demand immediate action from our government leaders?

A) Enhance after-school activities for our children.
B) Establish a fair working environment for all.
C) Improve living conditions for everyone.

Q. What ideas can you bring to the table to revive the CNMI economy?

As a radio and TV salesperson, through consultations with hundreds of businesses, and with my experience in the tourism and construction industry, as well as being a former business owner and community volunteer, I believe the best way to revive the economy is to level the playing field:

A) Initiate a true partnership with businesses and the community.
B) Increase business profitability by eliminating illegal commerce.
C) Encourage participation in business ownership.
D) Promote and enforce the beautification of our islands.
E) Organize a volunteer village commissioner program to better address individual community needs.
F) Immediate collection of all government receivables.

Q. What is your vision for the Commonwealth? And what are the steps that must be taken to achieve that vision?

I want to unite our islands by focusing on the strengths and weaknesses of each, promote harmony, equality, unity and work together for the good of our Commonwealth. In order for that to happen, we must:

A) Find out what is the problem.
B) Ask: Why is it a problem? Who does it affect? How?
C) Find possible solutions to the problems.
D) Implement the best possible solution for each of the problems.
E) Establish safeguards to prevent or deter future occurrence.

Q. What needs to be changed in people’s ways of thinking and doing things as a means to help you achieve your vision? How can that shift in thinking be achieved?

A. There’s an old saying that goes like this, “If you want something different, then do something different.” You may ask yourself, as I have, what can I do? The answer is simple: It starts with you and me, we have to do something, for our children’s sake and the future of our Commonwealth, and our way of life.

In closing, I would like to leave you with the words of Helen Keller: “I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do.”

I hope that you feel as I do and agree with me that it is time to stand up,
and do something: GO OUT AND VOTE!