Sablan releases campaign, financial interest reports

As promised, Democratic House of Representatives candidate and incumbent Rep. Christina Sablan (Precinct 2) has released her statement of financial interest and campaign finance report ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

The statement of financial interest, an annual requirement for all elected and appointed CNMI officials, was filed with the Office of the Public Auditor in June 2020, when it was due. OPA is required by law to keep these statements strictly confidential, unless the public official waives confidentiality. Sablan has waived confidentiality each time she has filed during her term in the 21st Legislature.

“These records should not be confidential,” she said. “The purpose of these statements is to report the financial interests and potential conflicts of interest of public officials. I have introduced and co-sponsored two bills that would make these statements public records. I urge my colleagues to support these bills—and, in the meantime, for all public officials to waive confidentiality for their financial interest statements, as well.”

Sablan’s statement of financial interest for calendar year 2019 indicates she has not derived any income from any organization that did business with the Commonwealth government. She has not received any gifts or honoraria from non-relatives, nor does she have any direct or indirect financial interest in real estate.

Sablan’s statement of financial interest also reports employment by a unit of government other than the CNMI government: she worked part-time for U.S. Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) from January to June 2019. In August 2019 she released a report on her sources of income, including details of her work with the federal congressional office (see: https://www.facebook.com/notes/tina-sablan/financial-disclosure-should-be-the-rule-for-every-public-official-heres-mine/722917291512059).

Sablan’s interim campaign finance report was filed with OPA and the Commonwealth Election Commission on Oct. 20, 2020. Commonwealth law presently requires candidates to only file their reports within 50 days after elections.

“I have always believed that citizens in the Northern Marianas, like citizens anywhere else in the country, should have the right to know how candidates raise and spend money in elections,” Sablan said. “Our law should change to require campaign finance reports to be available to the public before elections, and not just after. Legislation has been drafted and introduced before; we need more support in the Legislature to get it passed.”

According to Sablan’s interim campaign finance report, as of Oct. 19, 2020, her campaign has received $5,074.61 in cash contributions and $842.92 in in-kind donations, and spent $3,200.43. An updated report will be filed after the Nov. 3 election.

Sablan’s campaign did not conduct any fundraising events this election season. “Times are really tough for our whole community right now,” she said. “Since we had some money remaining from the 2018 campaign as well as contributions coming in from individual donors and in-kind support from the Democratic Party, my committee and I agreed to live within the means we had and not do any fundraising.”

“I am deeply grateful to the many generous folks who contributed in various ways to my campaign and that of my Precinct 2 running mate, Luella Ichihara Marciano, and our fellow candidates in the Democratic Party,” Sablan said. “To all our supporters who donated money or supplies, volunteered time, and offered words of encouragement: thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.”

Sablan’s statement of financial interest and campaign finance report can be accessed on her official Facebook page @reptinasablan, or through OPA or by request via email, tinasablan@gmail.com, or call 285-3935. (PR)