JULIAN TAISACAN TAIMANAO

PERSONAL BACKGROUND

Date of Birth: January 10, 1959
Place of Birth: Songsong Village, Rota
Wife: Edita Manibusan Taimanao
Children: Cristine Judeen (deceased), Barbara DeeAnn, Julie Marie, Joseph Dean, Julian Moises, and Briannie Hope.
Father: Moises Songao Taimanao
Mother: Esperanza Manglona Taisacan (deceased)

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

1997: University of Guam BA on Vocational Education

1992: Community College of the Air Force AA on Military Science and Technology

1979: U.S. Military Metrology Career Course

1978: George Washington High School, Guam

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

1997-2005: CNMI PSS Teacher II

1979-1994: U.S. Air Force (Retired)

CIVIC INVOLVEMENTS:

2005-2005: PTA Vice Pres./ Member, Coach for Intramural Sports and Mathcount competitions

Q. What would you consider the top three issues or concerns facing the CNMI that demand immediate action from our government leaders?

A. The top three issues facing our CNMI can be roll up into one: the economy. It is the most important issue because with a healthy economy, all other issues could be addressed and possibly fixed.

Q. What ideas can you bring to the table to revive the CNMI economy?

A. To revive the economy, we must all work together and certain steps must be taken:

1. Raise the minimum wage to federal standards or higher. This will increase the buying power for the local consumer. Good for businesses!

2. Revisit our tax system, especially the importation tax. I believe we need to convert the importation tax to sales tax, lower the BGR tax, lower or remove business fees for investors (local or foreign). This will help businesses defray the cost of doing business and the minimum wage increase.

3. Identify, develop, promote, and export recyclable industries that are prominent on each island. For example:

a. Pagan: Tourism and Mining

b. Rota: Agriculture Products, Human Resources, and Water Products

c. Saipan: Agriculture Products, Human Resources, Information services and Tourism

d. Tinian: Agriculture Products, Human Resources, and Gaming Industries

e. The other islands could be used for tourist destinations or fishing industries.

In general to involve all local resources to generate revenue to improve the community.

4. NMC to focus in the development of blue-collar human resources. The CNMI needs these skilled workers in order for its economy to grow.

5. Develop local and general location markets (Guam, FSM, Palau, etc.) Finding and developing markets for our agriculture and water products.

6. Local government needs to be more effective and efficient in its public services.

These are just some courses of action we need to do in order for our economy to rebound. We have to be able to compete in the world economy, but start within our sphere of influence.

Q. What is your vision for the Commonwealth and Rota? And what are the steps that must be taken to achieve that vision?

My vision for our CNMI is for our community to be more self sustaining in the future. Right now, we are too dependent on foreign and domestic aid, and we are accustomed to it. We need to develop an economic system that is less dependent on those aids and more focused on our resources. As for Rota, we need to address and complete all infrastructure projects, promote pro-active programs and policies, provide government services that are responsive to the general needs of our community and island.