Rep. Propst resigns

Saying that he has reached his limits due to an extremely stressful job, the attacks on his name, and cyber bullying, House minority leader Rep. Edwin K. Propst (D-Saipan) stepped down from his job yesterday, with his last official day as a House representative this Thursday.

In his resignation letter, which he submitted to House Speaker Blas Jonathan T. Attao, Propst said he decided to resign after a long discussion over the weekend with his wife, Daisy, their children, and some close family and friends.

The lawmaker said the attacks and cyber bullying seem to only worsen with each passing day. “It can break a person down emotionally, mentally, and physically. Everyone has their limits, and I feel I have reached mine,” he said.

This comes 20 days after a private citizen asked that Propst be investigated for alleged sexual misconduct when he was still a teacher. Last Sept. 17, the Department of Public Safety confirmed that a complaint had been filed against Propst and that DPS is looking into the complaint. DPS spokesman Dre Pangelinan refused to talk about nature of the complaint and other specifics.

Propst said his last official day will be this Thursday so he can close out his office.

He thanked the people of Precinct 1 for giving him “the honor to serve” them over the course of his three terms as a representative. “I love you all and thank you for so kindly welcoming us into your homes and hearts,” he said.

The lawmaker said he is forever indebted to his staff, Vince Camacho and Sal Limes, and the minority team, who have done “a magnificent job in serving our people.”

Edwin K. Propst

“I am grateful for the strong friendships I have made with all of my colleagues in the House and Senate and their staff, and the hardworking, always dependable Legislative Bureau staff,” he said.

Propst said he has had the greatest honor and privilege of serving Precinct 1 and the Commonwealth for the past six years. He said he has been fully invested and committed as a representative and public servant leader, often putting the needs of the public before the needs of his family and himself.

Propst said the work that they do in helping others, especially the families in need, has consistently been their main focus when it comes to legislation and community volunteerism.

“After every typhoon or disaster, my chief of staff Vince Camacho and our community workers and I committed ourselves to joining other volunteers in assisting families throughout our precinct and beyond,” he said.

Aside from her letter to the OAG, private citizen Irene Holl had also asked Attao to conduct a formal ethics investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against Propst while he was a teacher at the Marianas High School and at the Northern Marianas College. Holl also wrote the same letters to Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and Attorney General Edward Manibusan.

Propst’s current term was supposed to end on Jan. 11, 2021. He first successfully ran as in independent candidate and was running for the upcoming Nov. 3 general election as a Democrat.

During his three terms as a representative, he served on the House committees on Education; Health; Commerce and Tourism; and Federal and Foreign Affairs.

Prior to joining the Legislature, Propst worked in education and owned a photography business.