Gov. Juan N. Babauta bids the government goodbye this weekend, ending his 31 years in public service, including 24 uninterrupted years in three elective posts. <\/p>\n
Babauta, 52, was elected to the Commonwealth\u2019s highest office in the November 2001 general elections, making him the fifth CNMI governor. <\/p>\n
Before this, he served for three terms or 12 years as Washington Representative.<\/p>\n
Prior to his Washington D.C. assignment, he was senator for two terms\u2014a total of eight years\u2014authoring laws such as the creation of an autonomous education department known now as the Public School System, among others.<\/p>\n
His long work experience in D.C. has been cited as the reason the CNMI government, under his administration, revived and strengthened its relations with the federal government, resulting in more capital improvement projects and various federal grants for the CNMI.<\/p>\n
A VISIONARY<\/p>\n
Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente said he was convinced to run with Babauta because of the latter\u2019s vision for the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the 12 years or so that we\u2019ve worked together since I was a congressman, I\u2019ve seen that we share a lot in common when it comes to policies and visions for the CNMI. There\u2019s a lot of issues he\u2019s supporting that I feel so strongly about. We feel the same way on issues such as immigration, federal relations, environment, and a lot more,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said that, while he is regarded in the administration as one who wants to implement things, Babauta \u201cis the guy who sees into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
EDUCATION <\/p>\n
Without being presumptuous, Benavente said that Babauta is the first CNMI leader he has met who has great passion for education.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis vision is to have an educated society. He pours his energy into the improvement of education here, believing that it will open the CNMI to greater opportunities as a community, as an economy, knowing that it will better the lives of people. He is consistent and persistent about education,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
During his term, Babauta launched his Governor\u2019s Education Initiative, giving grants to classroom teachers and students.<\/p>\n
TOUGH LEADER<\/p>\n
Although viewed by many critics differently, Babauta\u2019s loyal supporters and friends hold the governor in high respect, describing him as a \u201ctough leader.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is a tough leader. He stays focused despite the pressure. He\u2019d do things when he knows it\u2019s the best thing to do regardless of what others may think of him,\u201d said the governor\u2019s special assistant for administration, Thomas Tebuteb.<\/p>\n
He also said that the governor as a boss \u201cwill challenge you to do better.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe does not interfere with your work. I don\u2019t view it as interference. He gives you freedom to do your work but he wants to keep tabs on what you\u2019re doing. It\u2019s because he\u2019s focused,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Rep. Arnold I. Palacios said the governor has always \u201ctried to do what is right\u201d to the extent that he gets criticized.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s sensitive to the needs of people. Very conscientious. He\u2019s trying his best to do what is right and one thing I\u2019d say is that he\u2019s a very hardworking man,\u201d said the lawmaker.<\/p>\n
Benavente said he\u2019s learned a lot from his partnership with Babauta.<\/p>\n
He said that, while others perceive Babauta as not a listener, he said that he actually learned how to listen from the governor.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf anything, he is a listener. I\u2019ve learned to be a better listener from him.\u201d<\/p>\n
STRENGTHS BECOME WEAKNESSES<\/p>\n
A department official, who requested anonymity, said that the governor\u2019s strengths as a person and leader have also become his weaknesses.<\/p>\n
For instance, the governor knew too well that he would suffer politically by supporting the fuel surcharge, yet he went ahead with it anyway.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe knew it\u2019s going to cost him votes. He knew it\u2019s a hot political issue during the campaign but he went ahead with it,\u201d said the official.<\/p>\n
The same person said that Babauta \u201ctrusts easily,\u201d to the point of being gullible.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe assumed that all his people were doing their job. It\u2019s too late for him to realize that his appointees and people he put in certain positions were running amuck,\u201d said the official.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s [Babauta] probably thinking of long-term plans and goals, but some of his associates only had short-term goals to achieve through him,\u201d the official added.<\/p>\n
Former Public Works Secretary John S. Reyes, who also served as chairman of the Republican Party last year, described the governor as \u201chonest.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe guy is honest. Too bad that he\u2019s leaving but it\u2019s a reality that we\u2019ve got to face,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
UNIQUE LEADER<\/p>\n
Reyes that Babauta is an example that a person with a humble beginning can be successful in his chosen field.<\/p>\n
In CNMI politics, Babauta rose to power despite not coming from a prominent family such as Tenorio, Camacho, or Sablan.<\/p>\n
Former congressman Karl T. Reyes said that Babauta is unique in the sense that \u201che made his own way all the way without having family as background.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s not from a big family that\u2019s making a push for his election,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
TANAPAG TO VERMONT <\/p>\n
Babauta was born to a humble family in Tanapag. He went to Tanapag Elementary School, San Roque Elementary School, and Hopwood Junior High School.<\/p>\n
At 15, Babauta left Saipan to live with a foster family in Vermont.<\/p>\n
He graduated from Enosburg Falls High School, Enosburg Falls, Vermont.<\/p>\n
His tidy and independent living is credited partly to his way of life as a teenager in a dairy farm in Vermont, where he would usually wake up at 4am to milk cows and clean the house.<\/p>\n
Throughout his four-year term as governor, Babauta has lived alone\u2014most of the time\u2014in his house in Gualo Rai.<\/p>\n
The governor chose not to use the Governor\u2019s Official Residence on Capitol Hill, except for official functions.<\/p>\n
When asked on this, Tebuteb said that it was to save on costs.<\/p>\n
Besides, he said that the governor is used to living in his own house, doing his own laundry and household chores.<\/p>\n
Babauta finished BS in American History from Eastern New Mexico University and obtained two master\u2019s degrees\u2014one in Political Science from Eastern New Mexico University and in Health Planning from the University of Cincinnati.<\/p>\n
He came back to Saipan to work as executive director of the Commonwealth Health Planning and Development Agency. After seven years, he decided to join local politics.<\/p>\n
A government official observed that Babauta\u2019s down-to-earth character, his amiability, and his strong education background, catapulted him to the highest post in the land.<\/p>\n
Despite his failed bid for re-election, Babauta\u2019s supporters remain loyal to him and are willing to stand by him through thick and thin.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re with him. There are many lies spoken against or about him but we don\u2019t believe those lies. He and the Lt. Governor will end their term with big accomplishments for the Commonwealth. People will realize this later,\u201d said Tebuteb.<\/p>\n
The CNMI\u2019s fifth governor will complete his term on Jan. 8.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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