Babauta ends 4-year term this weekend

Gov. Juan N. Babauta bids the government goodbye this weekend, ending his 31 years in public service, including 24 uninterrupted years in three elective posts.

Babauta, 52, was elected to the Commonwealth’s highest office in the November 2001 general elections, making him the fifth CNMI governor.

Before this, he served for three terms or 12 years as Washington Representative.

Prior to his Washington D.C. assignment, he was senator for two terms—a total of eight years—authoring laws such as the creation of an autonomous education department known now as the Public School System, among others.

His long work experience in D.C. has been cited as the reason the CNMI government, under his administration, revived and strengthened its relations with the federal government, resulting in more capital improvement projects and various federal grants for the CNMI.

A VISIONARY

Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente said he was convinced to run with Babauta because of the latter’s vision for the Commonwealth.

“In the 12 years or so that we’ve worked together since I was a congressman, I’ve seen that we share a lot in common when it comes to policies and visions for the CNMI. There’s a lot of issues he’s supporting that I feel so strongly about. We feel the same way on issues such as immigration, federal relations, environment, and a lot more,” he said.

He said that, while he is regarded in the administration as one who wants to implement things, Babauta “is the guy who sees into the future.”

EDUCATION

Without being presumptuous, Benavente said that Babauta is the first CNMI leader he has met who has great passion for education.

“His vision is to have an educated society. He pours his energy into the improvement of education here, believing that it will open the CNMI to greater opportunities as a community, as an economy, knowing that it will better the lives of people. He is consistent and persistent about education,” he said.

During his term, Babauta launched his Governor’s Education Initiative, giving grants to classroom teachers and students.

TOUGH LEADER

Although viewed by many critics differently, Babauta’s loyal supporters and friends hold the governor in high respect, describing him as a “tough leader.”

“He is a tough leader. He stays focused despite the pressure. He’d do things when he knows it’s the best thing to do regardless of what others may think of him,” said the governor’s special assistant for administration, Thomas Tebuteb.

He also said that the governor as a boss “will challenge you to do better.”

“He does not interfere with your work. I don’t view it as interference. He gives you freedom to do your work but he wants to keep tabs on what you’re doing. It’s because he’s focused,” he said.

Rep. Arnold I. Palacios said the governor has always “tried to do what is right” to the extent that he gets criticized.

“He’s sensitive to the needs of people. Very conscientious. He’s trying his best to do what is right and one thing I’d say is that he’s a very hardworking man,” said the lawmaker.

Benavente said he’s learned a lot from his partnership with Babauta.

He said that, while others perceive Babauta as not a listener, he said that he actually learned how to listen from the governor.

“If anything, he is a listener. I’ve learned to be a better listener from him.”

STRENGTHS BECOME WEAKNESSES

A department official, who requested anonymity, said that the governor’s strengths as a person and leader have also become his weaknesses.

For instance, the governor knew too well that he would suffer politically by supporting the fuel surcharge, yet he went ahead with it anyway.

“He knew it’s going to cost him votes. He knew it’s a hot political issue during the campaign but he went ahead with it,” said the official.

The same person said that Babauta “trusts easily,” to the point of being gullible.

“He assumed that all his people were doing their job. It’s too late for him to realize that his appointees and people he put in certain positions were running amuck,” said the official.

“He’s [Babauta] probably thinking of long-term plans and goals, but some of his associates only had short-term goals to achieve through him,” the official added.

Former Public Works Secretary John S. Reyes, who also served as chairman of the Republican Party last year, described the governor as “honest.”

“The guy is honest. Too bad that he’s leaving but it’s a reality that we’ve got to face,” he said.

UNIQUE LEADER

Reyes that Babauta is an example that a person with a humble beginning can be successful in his chosen field.

In CNMI politics, Babauta rose to power despite not coming from a prominent family such as Tenorio, Camacho, or Sablan.

Former congressman Karl T. Reyes said that Babauta is unique in the sense that “he made his own way all the way without having family as background.”

“He’s not from a big family that’s making a push for his election,” he said.

TANAPAG TO VERMONT

Babauta was born to a humble family in Tanapag. He went to Tanapag Elementary School, San Roque Elementary School, and Hopwood Junior High School.

At 15, Babauta left Saipan to live with a foster family in Vermont.

He graduated from Enosburg Falls High School, Enosburg Falls, Vermont.

His tidy and independent living is credited partly to his way of life as a teenager in a dairy farm in Vermont, where he would usually wake up at 4am to milk cows and clean the house.

Throughout his four-year term as governor, Babauta has lived alone—most of the time—in his house in Gualo Rai.

The governor chose not to use the Governor’s Official Residence on Capitol Hill, except for official functions.

When asked on this, Tebuteb said that it was to save on costs.

Besides, he said that the governor is used to living in his own house, doing his own laundry and household chores.

Babauta finished BS in American History from Eastern New Mexico University and obtained two master’s degrees—one in Political Science from Eastern New Mexico University and in Health Planning from the University of Cincinnati.

He came back to Saipan to work as executive director of the Commonwealth Health Planning and Development Agency. After seven years, he decided to join local politics.

A government official observed that Babauta’s down-to-earth character, his amiability, and his strong education background, catapulted him to the highest post in the land.

Despite his failed bid for re-election, Babauta’s supporters remain loyal to him and are willing to stand by him through thick and thin.

“We’re with him. There are many lies spoken against or about him but we don’t believe those lies. He and the Lt. Governor will end their term with big accomplishments for the Commonwealth. People will realize this later,” said Tebuteb.

The CNMI’s fifth governor will complete his term on Jan. 8.