House leadership turnover today

The House of Representatives is expected to elect a new speaker today, fulfilling a verbal compromise brokered by current speaker Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Spn) and vice speaker Ralph Demapan (R-Spn) to share the speaker’s seat and gavel.

If the gentleman’s agreement is followed through on—which broke the impasse between candidates vying for the position last year—Demapan will be the new speaker for the remaining 12 months of the 19th Legislature.

It’s wait-and-see if the contentious House minority bloc will try to contest the leadership switch. It appears they currently do not have the numbers to do so. Some consider the speaker spot as a lame-duck seat, as lawmakers will soon turn their eye to seats in the upcoming 20th Legislature, with mid-term elections later this year and aggressive campaigning expected to begin soon.

Deleon Guerrero won the speakership on a vote of 11-9 with the support of Demapan and his six NMI Republican Party mates against Rep. Ramon A. Tebuteb.

The same 11 votes are expected to play a factor in the turnover for speakership. They are Reps. Antonio Sablan (Ind-Saipan), Edwin Aldan (Ind-Saipan), Francis S. Taimanao (Ind-Saipan), Felicidad Ogumoro (R-Saipan), John Paul P. Sablan (R-Saipan), George Camacho (R-Saipan), Angel Demapan (R-Saipan), Joseph “Leepan” T. Guerrero (R-Saipan), Rafael S. Demapan (R-Saipan), Glenn L. Maratita (R-Saipan), and Deleon Guerrero.

The election of speaker and vice speaker will leads today’s session, after public comments, according to a notice and agenda available on the House website.

Speaker Guerrero earlier said that many people felt that he should continue as speaker but that he would be keeping his word. “We wouldn’t have had a leadership without that agreement taking place. I’m going to honor my part of the bargain, along with my [constituents],” he had said.

Demapan told Saipan Tribune he is looking forward to the speakership in order to guide the Legislature on issues affecting retirees, medical referral, and public lands. “Finding revenues to keep government programs well-funded is always a priority. …We have to stay focused on the retirement issue, the hospital, public safety, and education. I will continue to work with all the members of the House as well as the Senate to address issues affecting the Commonwealth and I thank them for their patience as we charter the course of the CNMI,” he said.

With election year coming up, the needed votes for speakership and upcoming bills can still steer in different directions.