[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15589]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


              HONORING MAYOR MARIAN DELEON GUERRERO TUDELA

                                 ______
                                 

                  HON. GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN

                    of the northern mariana islands

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 12, 2014

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, June 8, 2014 marked a pivotal moment in the 
history of the Northern Mariana Islands, when Marian Deleon Guerrero 
Tudela was sworn in not only as the first female mayor of Saipan, but 
the first female mayor of any of our municipalities. Mayor Tudela 
assumed this position by operation of law upon the untimely death of 
Mayor Donald Glenn Flores. Though residing at the time in the mainland 
United States, she honorably agreed to serve her community through the 
remainder of his term, and returned to Saipan.
  With over 21 years in the private sector and over 10 years in 
government service, Mayor Tudela has a long and rich professional 
history. And this is not her first time to answer to the people 
directly. From 1994 to 1998 and from 2006 to 2008, Mayor Tudela was a 
member of the Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council. She has 
also served on the boards of the Northern Mariana Islands Retirement 
Fund and the Commonwealth Ports Authority.
  As mayor, Ms. Tudela oversees a staff of approximately 40 hard-
working members of our community. Her office undertakes programs and 
projects that range from improving local infrastructure to fostering 
better relations with our tourism partner countries. For example, each 
year, the mayor's office sponsors exchange programs among our high 
school students and students from Japan and Korea. And on any given 
day, you can find her employees trimming trees to make our beautiful 
lagoon more visible to tourists traveling on Beach Road, patching 
potholes on secondary roads or catching stray dogs that roam the 
streets. Couples intending to wed visit the mayor's office to obtain 
their marriage license, and those who do not drive but desire 
identification cards can receive those through her office. The mayor's 
office also spearheads the annual Liberation Day festivities on Saipan, 
which celebrates the freeing of our islands from occupying Japanese 
forces by the American military in 1944.
  Mayor Tudela is now one of the highest-ranking female officials ever 
to hold office in the Northern Mariana Islands. And as such, she serves 
as a role model and a reminder to all women that they have come of age 
in our local political arena. But championing women's issues is nothing 
new to Mayor Tudela. She formerly served as a Governor's Special 
Assistant for Women's Affairs, and over the years has participated in 
numerous symposia addressing issues of import to women in the Pacific 
region.
  Marian Deleon Guerrero Tudela's willingness to step into this 
position so unexpectedly, serve so unassumingly and carry on the fine 
tradition not only of her predecessor but of the mayors of all our 
islands should serve as an inspiration for women, but more, should 
serve as a model for all people who aspire to serve their communities.

                          ____________________