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David M. Apatang

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Dave Apatang
13th Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 9, 2023
GovernorArnold Palacios
Preceded byArnold Palacios
Mayor of Saipan
In office
January 12, 2015 – January 8, 2023
Preceded byMarian Tudela
Succeeded byRamon Camacho
Personal details
Born
David Mundo Apatang

(1948-07-10) July 10, 1948 (age 76)
Political partyRepublican (before 2021)
Independent (2021–present)
SpouseAntonia Pangelinan Mafnas (deceased 2016)
EducationSan Francisco State University (BA)
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1967–1987
RankFirst Sergeant

David Mundo Apatang (born July 10, 1948)[1][2] is a Northern Mariana Islander politician who is serving as the 13th lieutenant governor of the Northern Mariana Islands since 2023. He previously served as the mayor of Saipan from January 12, 2015 to January 8, 2023. As a Republican, Apatang formerly served in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives.[3] Apatang was elected lieutenant governor of the Northern Mariana Islands in the 2022 election on an independent ticket headed by Arnold Palacios.[4]

Education

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While in the Army, Apatang earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech and communications from San Francisco State University.

Career

[edit]

Military service

[edit]

Apatang[5] served in the United States Army from 1967 to 1987.[6] A Vietnam War veteran, Apatang was stationed at various times in Vietnam; the Panama Canal Zone; Würzburg, Germany; Fort Lewis in Washington; Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana; and Fort Jackson in South Carolina. He ended his career at Fort Jackson and served on its courts-martial council. He retired with the rank of first sergeant in 1987.[7]

Following his military service, Apatang served in local government. He served seven consecutive terms in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives.[6]

Commonwealth Legislature

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Atapang was elected to the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives in the 1995 general election. He was the second highest vote-getter in Saipan's Precinct 1.[8] Apatang ran for the Senate in 2001 on behalf of the Covenant Party in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate's 3rd district.[9] In the 2005 gubernatorial election, Apatang ran for Lieutenant Governor as the running mate of Heinz Hofschneider. While both Hofschneider and Apatang were Republicans, they ran as independents.[10] In a four-way race, the Hofschneider–Apatang ticket lost to Benigno Fitial and Timothy Villagomez of the Covenant Party by a single point.[11]

Mayor of Saipan

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Shortly after the death of Donald Flores, the mayor of Saipan, Apatang announced his candidacy for the position.[5] Apatang, running as an independent, defeated Republican candidate Jose Alguto Reyes and Democratic candidate Antonio Pinaula Mareham in the 2014 general election.[12] Apatang succeeded Marian Tudela, the acting Mayor appointed after Flores's death.[13] He was sworn in on January 12, 2015[14] and served two terms, ending on January 9, 2023.[15] His wife, Antonia Pangelinan Mafnas, died in Hawaii on December 14, 2016.[7][16] In 2021, the House passed a resolution to honor Apatang's 50 years of service to the people of the CNMI.[15]

2022 lieutenant gubernatorial election

[edit]

Apatang ran as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands in the 2022 election, running on an independent ticket headed by then incumbent lieutenant governor Arnold Palacios.[4] They won 54.14% of the votes in the second round, defeating the incumbent Republic governor and the resurgent Democratic Party candidates. Apatang was sworn into office on January 9, 2023.

References

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  1. ^ "Apatang celebrates 70th birthday with fundraiser". 15 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Saipan Mayor's Office on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2022-04-27.[user-generated source]
  3. ^ Evarose Limol, K-Andrea (April 28, 2021). "Apatang may endorse GOP hopeful for mayor". Marianas Variety. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ a b Dayao, Jun (June 11, 2014). "David Apatang announces his candidacy for Saipan mayor". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "The Mayor of Saipan". saipanmayor.net. Municipality of Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Vote #6 David Mundo Apatang" (PDF). Marians Variety. Vol. 23, no. 170. October 23, 1995. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021 – via eVols.
  8. ^ Munar, Mar-Vic C. (November 6, 1995). "GOP by Landslide" (PDF). Marians Variety. Vol. 23, no. 170. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 24, 2021 – via eVols.
  9. ^ Limtiaco, Steve (November 3, 2001). "Large turnout expected at CNMI polls". Pacific Daily News. p. A4.
  10. ^ Hernandez, Criselda B. (2005). "Politics: 4-Way Gubernatorial Election Heats Up". Islands Business. Archived from the original on 2012-02-23. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
  11. ^ McPhetres, Samuel F. (2007). "Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands" (PDF). The Contemporary Pacific: A Journal of Island Affairs. 19 (1). University of Hawaiʻi Press: 190. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  12. ^ Guerrero, Robert A.; Hofschneider, Donald M. (August 13, 2014). "Commonwealth Resolution Number CEC 14-001" (PDF). Letter to General Public. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  13. ^ "CNMI Governor Appoints New Mayor For Saipan: Tudela, who finished second in elections, takes over after Flores' death". Saipan Tribune. June 4, 2014. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  14. ^ "Apatang is sworn in as the new mayor of Saipan". 12 January 2015. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  15. ^ a b De La Torre, Ferdie (7 January 2021). "House of Reps honors Mayor Apatang with resolution". The Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  16. ^ Santos, Michael T. (December 16, 2016). "Saipan mayor's wife passes away". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to David Mundo Apatang.
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Saipan
2015–2023 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
2023–present 		Incumbent
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