A perspective in a US Commonwealth democracy

Collaborative leadership: A breath of fresh air for a change!

Juan S. Torres and I pledge to change the outmoded ways of the government and open public services to 21st century advances that will bring fresh air to the slippery slope our local governance struggles with daily. We will bring the kind of governance that is collaborative and focused on performance and results and customer-focused and customer-friendly in the delivery of broad community benefits to all, and not enriching only a select few!

Juan S. Torres and I will realize our vision not by asking people to make a change, but for us to lead change in government to serve all people: that is, to bring a world order in a new government that does not make unilateral and backdoor decisions that ultimately threatens the rights of individuals in our democracy. Rather, we will establish a government that openly builds informed consensus and engages in informed collaborative leadership with all stakeholders, one that is intended to benefit all and not to enrich only a handful is our principle of governance for success in the modern century—the principle Juan S. Torres and I will operate by.

Juan S. Torres and I believe in collaborative leadership that builds on consensus and open process. We retain the necessary and sufficient college education, senior executive experiences, and human resources relationships to make things happen. Our direct experiences and established relationships, particularly with our local government and our federal partners, in addition to our collective experiences in the private sector, are key in making things happen once in office. After all, Juan S. Torres and I have no reason to waste time on on-the-job training activities!

Collectively, our combined background provides ready access to and the know-how for navigating and successfully dealing with local financial institutions, local banks, and the Retirement Fund: Juan S. Torres, as an accountant by trade; staff accountant, Office of Economic Opportunity (U.S Federal Agency); 902 Negotiation Team; Tax Task Force; general manager/vice president, Bank of Saipan; Commonwealth Savings & Loan asst. manager, Bank of America, Saipan branch; a former administrator, NMI Retirement Fund; Member, CNMI House of Representatives; Senator, CNMI Senate; director, Division of Land Registration & Survey (DLNR); and chairman, Marianas Public Land Trust, board of trustees, and a fulltime farmer, among others. Moreover, throughout his successful professional assignments, Juan S. Torres was privy to numerous and important professional executive trainings at University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business; University of Pittsburgh, Katz School of Business; Stanford University, School of Law; and the International Institute of Research and Asset Allocation Studies.

As far as my background goes, I, Juan N. Babauta, am a former governor; a college instructor; a health administrator; a Washington representative; a publisher; a member of the 902 talks; a member and chairman of the PSS Board of Education and a member and chairman of the NMC Board of Regents. Like Juan S. Torres, I too have college background with master’s degree in health planning and health services administration as well as in political science and American history.

In our roles and capacities as governor and lieutenant governor respectively, we both view ourselves in supportive and facilitative relationship, and fittingly so within our respective professional background; technical skill set; and senior decision-maker experience, occupational portfolio and leadership style.

Together, our combined and cumulative experiences and established relationships in government (CNMI and federal level) and the business sector make our team uniquely results-oriented, Action-Team (A-Team), a unique team with complementing private and public sector experience ready to fulfill the mission at hand while serving our citizenry. Babauta-Torres is the CNMI’s real action leadership choice for the Offices of Governor and Lt. Governor.

On the skill sets necessary to accomplish the job in one term in office, we gladly bring to the leadership invaluable and multifaceted resources. For example, our combined education and job experiences in government and the private sector are by far unsurpassed and unique in comparison in regards to our college education; our senior executive experiences; and our passion for people first and our commitment for action and results. Our commitment to taking immediate action to alleviate our people’s suffering is inevitably manifested in our pledge to complete the mission knowing it won’t be “a walk in the park,” for this will require a tremendous amount of hard work, determination, sweat and resourcefulness. Nonetheless, fully aware that with your cooperation and collaboration, we will climb mountains together! We are counting on our collective partnerships—starting on Day 1, after taking the oath of office.

Indeed, our collective experience in government and the local business community has given us invaluable insights and profound knowledge base. These background sets are essential to understanding the Commonwealth’s multi-faceted problems. The knowledge gained from our cumulative professional and political experiences are pivotal in formulating achievable action plans and workable solutions geared to improving the quality of life for all in this great Commonwealth, without the need to first undergo basic on-the-job-training.

Change is indeed what we bring, and change is who we are—ready, willing and able to be in service of ALL people, by being fiscally responsible, turning our economy around, getting our residents back to work and setting the foundation for a stronger future, prosperity and success for ALL.