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House honors CNMI’s first woman mayor
The House of Representatives honored outgoing Saipan Mayor Marian DLG Tudela with a resolution during the lower chamber’s sine die yesterday.
With the distinction of being the first ever female mayor of the CNMI, it was a no-brainer for the House to bestow a commemorative resolution on Tudela, who took over from mayor Sonny Flores who passed away in June of last year.
“I thought it was going to be hard but it became easier as the months passed by. To me, it was very challenging but I always liked to help people,” Tudela said in an interview after receiving the House resolution.
During her short stint at the helm of the Saipan Mayor’s Office, she was able to continue some of Flores’ programs and in fact facilitated the acquisition of major equipment like a backhoe and bucket truck critical for the municipal government to dispense its services to the community.
Tudela added that she hopes her legacy as the first female mayor of the Commonwealth would be replicated in the future.
“I am very proud of that achievement and hope there would be more female mayors in the future. If I can do it, others can, too.”
As far as future plans go, the outgoing mayor said she would fly back to Arizona for family matters before going back to Saipan where at least three job opportunities in the private sector await her.
She said a company wants to hire her as a liaison between the company and the Division of Customs, while another offer is in the realty industry.
House Resolution 18-68, whose main author is Rep. Janet U. Maratita (Ind-Saipan), honors Tudela for her distinguished career in the public sector and to congratulate and commend her for her countless exemplary accomplishments and contributions to the people of the CNMI.
From 1994 to 1998 and from 2006 to 2008, Tudela was a member of the Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council. She has also served on the boards of the NMI Retirement Fund and the Commonwealth Ports Authority.
She was also recently honored in the 113th U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Record Volume 160, No. 137. HR 18-68 passed the House last Dec. 10.
