Who they are, what you see, and what you don’t

Editor’s Note: The following candidates have requested that they be included in the Saipan Tribune’s Candidates’ Forum.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE CANDIDATES

PRECINCT 1

JUAN CEPEDA DELEON GUERRERO
Covenant Party

Personal Background
Father: Lorenzo Diaz Deleon Guerrero +
Mother: lsabel Agulto Cepeda +
Date of birth: October 13, 1948
Common law-wife: Susan Camacho Babauta
Children: Jasmin, Natalia, Dolores, Jonan, Yvonne, Maureen, Jun, Valerie

Professional Background
2001 – present, Human Resource Manager, D&W Group of Companies,
1992-1999, president/wwner of J’s Enterprises Construction Co.
1989-1992, vice-president & general manager for operation of RA & Sons Enterprise
1985-1989, leadman for Keneke Roofing Company, Pearl City, Honolulu, Hawaii
1982-1985, Army National Guard (California)
1972-1973, Hopwood Jr. High School, drafting teacher
1970-1971, U.S. Army (Vietnam veteran)

Educational Background
2004-2005, OSHA General & Construction Course, completed
1975-1980, Apprenticeship Program State of Hawaii, graduated
1968-1969, Advanced Architectural I & II, Guam Vocational-Technical School
1956-1966, Mt. Carmel School
1966-1968, Hopwood High School

Community Involvement
American Red Cross, Courses for Adult CPR and First Aid
Vocational Rehab and WIA, assist in hiring and location of workforce of individuals

Community 0utreach Program
Education Tax Credit (Monetary contributions)
Responsible for Koblerville Elementary School, Southern High, DanDan Elementary School, Garapan Elementary School, Tanapag Elementary School, NMC

Tax Credit
Monetary contributions for the Man Amko
Donated wheelchairs for CHC

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

A. My utmost concern right now is the dilemma that now faces electricity consumers in the CNMI in regards to fuel surcharge. I will re-introduce a bill that will cease the surcharge fee and pursue diligently among colleagues for enactment. Large portions of our population are either middle-income earners or in the poverty level and are striving to live comfortably. Fuel surcharge is an additional and unnecessary burden and clearly unaffordable.

Secondly, we have to plan to gradually increase CNMI’s minimum wage and expand our work force to gradually minimize our dependency on nonresident workers. We have students graduating by the hundreds every year and our leaders continuously fail them in opening up opportunities for them to be contributing members of our society. This is substantiated by high crime rates in our islands. We have to increase the minimum wage and provide incentive plans in the private sectors, equally extended to employees in the government sectors. We can sit back as leaders and uncaringly witness our children moving to other places where commodities are cheaper and wages and benefits are more attractive. This is not the answer. This is not how to grow as a society to maintain our culture, heritage and tradition and to prosper as a community.

The third issue I would like to address is the needs of our students to be properly educated in both elementary and secondary level. The Public School System requires a minimum of $50 million to operate annually. With our meager economy and insufficient revenue flowing into our general fund, our leaders have to be innovative in finding other means of resources to assist our schools with educational tools needed for our children. Working with our private sectors in providing such assistance has been effective in our community and we should complement contributors to maintain this relationship. Abolishing tax credit is not the answer. I would also like to see apprenticeship programs augmented in the government and private sectors. This is unlike the Work Force Investment Agency program. The apprenticeship assures longevity of tenure with up-scale in salary based on performance. This opportunity should be made available to the young people without high school diploma and those who opted not to obtain postsecondary education.

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

A. Before we venture elsewhere to increase our tourism industry, draw in investors, increase local entrepreneurs, our leaders should re-examine the existence of their present house rules. We cannot continue to remain rigid and stubborn when generating addition funds into the CNMI is concern. We have to provide flexibility and establish laws that are business-friendly and abolish those that are formidable to present and future investors.

We cannot establish laws that attract them today and then enact anti-business laws the following day that would have them packing and leaving. This is like a suicide event of our of our economy and would engulf the CNMI like a tidal wave of fuel surcharge, inadequate funding for all our essential services, threats of payless payday, austerity measures in all government operations, etc. Let us fix our house rules for a lasting effect of our economic survival.

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

A. My greatest vision is surplus. The primary role of a lawmaker is to enact a balanced budget. Revenue equals expenditure. Second step is to have our budget be based on performance and needs. Let us examine closely and objectively our means of distribution of funds. Quality public services are rendered if and only if they are provided by efficient public servants. We have to promote productivity and distribute our labor force where they can perform effectively. Our leaders have to work cooperatively and be innovative in enacting laws that will entice investors for additional revenue to solve our ever-increasing deficit problems. The only solution to our annual deficits is additional new money. We cannot continue to circulate money that is not enough.

Q. What needs to be changed in people‚s ways of thinking and doing things as a means to achieve your vision?

A. I would like to see that in all aspects of our government system, political issues should be set aside and leaders should focus on the needs and interest of all citizens of the CNMI. Lawmakers should work together cooperatively and not antagonize one another because of political affiliation or of selfish interest. Efficiency and productivity enhance the livelihood of the constituent we serve.

We should also always be mindful that we have to respect one another. We all have rights and privileges to choose leaders to lead us through our lives. It is us who must choose a way to resolve all the problems that we are currently bequeathed. I would like to be given the opportunity and the privilege to pioneer my thoughts of proper etiquette in that as a leader and a lawmaker. I will set images and examples and only then I can hope that my vision can be achieved.