Governor Tina Sablan?

I note with interest a writer’s heart-strung plea for newly elected Rep. Christina Sablan to seriously consider running for the CNMI governorship in the upcoming election. I have read, seen, heard and finally spoke to Tina. And, like many others, she has impressed me as a polarizing figure sincerely bent on reforming the corruption that’s entrenched in our government, specifically the graybeards and deadwoods on the hill who primp for newspaper headlines and strut for any voter. Could she be the phenom who shakes up that legislative rot and then bring hope to our community?

Let’s take a closer look.

Rep. Sablan sort of reminds me of the U.S. vice presidential pick for the national Republican Party, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who campaigned, like Tina, as a reformer. In last week’s GOP convention, Palin struck back at the liberal media and a “Washington elite” that have raised questions about her qualifications to be vice president of our nation. Her speech connected strongly with delegates who interrupted her numerous times with standing ovations, she dismissed critics of her background as “snobs” who look down on ordinary Americans and their concerns to do the right thing.

Palin is quoted as saying: “I’m not a member of the permanent political establishment. And I’ve learned quickly these past few days that if you’re not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone. But here’s a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion. I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this country.”

Call “Washington” the CNMI legislative halls; the “snobs” the graybeards and deadwoods; the “elite” as GOP politicos that seek to always undermine Tina and keep their boys in office; and replace VP pick “Palin” with, and you’ll come to: Rep. Sablan. The difference here is Palin has already done battle with those politicos by first being a city council member in the small town of Wesilla then managing it as mayor. Tina has no such inclusive experience. Then Palin usurped a powerful sitting GOP governor two years ago to become Alaska’s governor on a ticket of reform. Tina got elected on her first try as an independent candidate. Unlike Palin, who is known as the soccer mom nurturing a family of five children and one husband, Rep. Sablan, even without this background, is learning very fast.

The notion of Tina being the CNMI governor is idealistic at best. Why? Newcomer Palin is riding under the protective cover and reputation of a Vietnam war prisoner and hero by the name of John McCain, the GOP presidential nominee who has been in the U.S. Senate for two decades. Tina has no such advantage. The other question posed against Tina is realistic: Can an articulate and intelligent and persistent candidate win?

For the romanticists out there yes, she is, but uh-uh. It’s too soon. Being unprepared with no political engine or picnic table support—mandatory in smash-mouth politics—is a losing ticket. The other impediment Tina already knows: she’s been head-butted so often it must be frustrating. Those guys on the hill definitely don’t want or need any upstart—a young lady, at that, who doesn’t know “her place” up there—telling them what to do. It’s an all-male gang-job and no place for Tina. Local politics—for an “outsider” like her—is a feeding frenzy where losing an eye or going hungry is not uncommon.

Then, what exactly is the problem? Never bring a knife to a gun fight.

So let’s imagine Tina being elected as the first female governor. Now what? If she’s done her due diligence as a “politician,” she must’ve already setup her Cabinet and those appointed to key departments and agencies. But who will they be: Cast-offs? Shysters? Ghouls? Graybeards or deadwoods? What are her choices out there? In short, ugh. Sweet-talking party jumpers will gleefully get on her bandwagon not because of belief in reforming governmental bloat, but to hustle a free ride and job at her expense. In the new establishment of Tina’s, that is not what she requires.

Let’s face it: Rep. Sablan is not a major league hitter in local politics. To rise above the mess, Tina must surround herself with like-minded individuals or run into the same problems she’s currently encountering now from the graybeards and deadwoods. And that applies to those she appoints to departmental and agency positions. It’s a fantasy to believe that the male of the species in the Legislature and the departments, who curry to the “no-women-allowed” mantra, would gladly surrender their all-male sanctuary just for her.

Clearly, the growing federal presence in the islands shall alter the face of government by unearthing more scandals. That problem, which now besets Governor Fitial, will be the same for any new governor: betrayal by incompetent legislators and untrustworthy departmental heads who were chosen in good faith to lead—and failed. Immediately to mind are the federal indictments for Governor Fitial’s lieutenant governor, Timothy Villagomez, and crony James Santos of the Commerce Department; and the slew of “early retirements” or outright firings of undesirables in key positions because of gross negligence or fear of exposure to incompetence.

So, who should Tina select? Choosing from a questionable list using time-on- the-job as criteria makes it a major vexation. It’s euphemistically called “experience” (throw in “incumbent,” too), a description that seems to influence those choosing but does not guarantee performance or competency by those chosen, witnessed by the current dilemma of a dysfunctional government, from top to bottom, over the last 30 years.

What to do? First, we as voters should get rid of the graybeards and the deadwoods in the Legislature. Next, don’t recycle the same old faces with the same old blather shuffled from one department or committee or board of directors, to another ad infinitum. Instead, bring in younger, better educated, equally adept and of same-mind personnel to prevent further disintegration of our government. They’re out there, find them.

Is Rep. Tina Sablan a shining star in local politics? In my 30 years plus in the region, I haven’t seen anything like it. But to paraphrase a poem: The star that shines the brightest dies the soonest.

And welcome to the jungle, Tina.