Arnold Palacios

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Arnold Palacios
10th Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
Assumed office
January 9, 2023
LieutenantDave Apatang
Preceded byRalph Torres
12th Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
In office
January 14, 2019 – January 9, 2023
GovernorRalph Torres
Preceded byVictor Hocog
Succeeded byDavid M. Apatang
President of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate
In office
January 10, 2017 – January 14, 2019
Preceded byFrank Borja
Succeeded byVictor Hocog
13th Speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives
In office
January 14, 2008 – January 11, 2010
Preceded byOscar M. Babauta
Succeeded byFroilan Tenorio
Personal details
Born
Arnold Indalecio Palacios

(1955-08-22) 22 August 1955 (age 68)[1]
Saipan, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (now Northern Mariana Islands)
Political partyRepublican (before 2021)
Independent (2021–present)
EducationPortland State University (BS)

Arnold Indalecio Palacios (born August 22, 1955) is a Northern Marianan politician currently serving as the tenth governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, since 2023. He previously served as the 12th lieutenant governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, from 2019 to 2023. He represented Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate. Formerly a member of the Republican Party, he is the governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, having won the 2022 election.[2][3]

Personal life[edit]

Palacios graduated from Portland State University with a BS in business administration.[4][5] Palacios is married to Wella Sablan Palacios[4] and they have four children: Arnold Gerard, Nicole, Tiana and Eric.

Political career[edit]

Palacios is a former Speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives. He was sworn in on January 14, 2008, as the Speaker of the House's 16th Legislature.[6] He represented Election District 3 in the House, which encompasses portions of Saipan and the Northern Islands.[4]

Palacios was the running mate of four-time gubernatorial candidate Heinz Hofschneider in the 2009 election. If elected, Palacios would have become the Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands in 2010. Instead, he was elected in 2018 with incumbent Governor Ralph Torres to begin a term in January 2019.

In the 2014 general election, Palacios was elected to the Northern Mariana Islands Senate, alongside Justo Songao Quitugua, defeating seven candidates for two seats from the 3rd Senatorial District (Saipan).[7] He was sworn into office as a Senator in the 19th Commonwealth Legislature on January 12, 2015. At the start of the 19th Commonwealth Legislature, Palacios was elected Floor Leader by a unanimous roll call.[8]

Palacios won as an independent candidate for Governor in the 2022 election, running with Saipan mayor David M. Apatang as his running-mate.[2]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Arnold Palacios". National Governors Association. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b De La Torre, Ferdie (2021-10-20). "BREAKING NEWS: Palacios to run for governor in 2022". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on 2021-11-28. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  3. ^ Limol, K.-Andrea Evarose. "UPDATED: Team Palacios-Apatang wins". Marianas Variety News & Views. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  4. ^ a b c "Representative Arnold I. Palacios". Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
  5. ^ "Gov. Arnold Palacios". National Governors Association. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  6. ^ Palacios, Arnold I. (2008-01-14). "'Restore the people's confidence in Legislature'". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on 2012-02-24. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
  7. ^ "Commonwealth Election Commission - Legislative Initiatives". Archived from the original on October 22, 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ Cruz, Geraldine T. (Journal Clerk) (January 12, 2015). "Election of Floor Leader" (PDF). Senate Journal. 19 (1). Northern Mariana Islands Senate: 8–9. Retrieved May 13, 2024.

External links[edit]

Political offices
Preceded by Speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives
2008–2010
Succeeded by
Preceded by President of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate
2017–2019
Succeeded by
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
2019–2023
Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
2023–present
Incumbent