Jesus Borja
Encyclopedia
Jesus "Jesse" Camacho Borja (born September 14, 1948) is a Northern Mariana Islander
politician
and laywer. Borja served as the Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
from 1994 until 1998 under former Democratic Governor Froilan Tenorio
.
He received a juris doctorate in 1974 from the Georgetown University Law Center
in Washington D.C.
of the Northern Mariana Islands Supreme Court
from 1989 until 1993. He has also worked as a lawyer
in a law practice for several for several years.
In 1993, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Froilan Tenorio
chose Borja as his running mate
for the 1993 election. Tenorio and Borja were elected as the Governor and Lt. Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands in the gubernatorial election. Borja was sworn in as the 4th Lt. Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands on January 10, 1994. Tenorio was defeated in his bid for re-election in the 1997 gubernatorial election by Republican Pedro Tenorio
. Borja left office on January 12, 1998 and was succeeded as Lt. Governor by Jesus Sablan
.
In the 2001 gubernatorial election campaign, Borja announced his candidacy for Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, choosing running mate Bridget Ichihara. His opponents in the election were Republican Juan Babauta, Covenant Party
candidate Benigno Fitial and Democratic former Governor Froilan Tenorio
. Borja lost the 2001 election, coming in third behind winner Juan Babauta and Benigno Fitial. Babauta and his running mate, Diego Benevente, won the election with 44.9 of the vote, Fitial came in second with 25.5%, Borja placed third with 18.0% and Tenorio finished last with 11.5% of the total vote.
In April 2010, Borja announced his candidacy as a Democrat for Delegate
of the Northern Mariana Islands
to the United States House of Representatives
in the 2010 election
. In a letter of intent to the chairmen of the CMNI Democratic Party Jesse T. Torres, Borja wrote, "I am highly qualified to fill the position of Washington delegate. In particular, my legal education at Georgetown University
, my experience as a justice of our Supreme Court
, my experience as lieutenant governor
, and my experience as a member of the NMI Commission on Federal Laws make me uniquely qualified to be the CNMI's Washington delegate." Borja officially filed to run for the seat on July 28, 2010.
Borja will challenge the incumbent Rep. Gregorio "Killi" Sablan
, the first delegate ever elected from the Northern Mariana Islands to the U.S. House. Joe Camacho
of the
Covenant Party
and Republican Juan Babauta, who served as Governor from 2002 until 2006, are also seeking the seat.
Northern Mariana Islands
The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , is a commonwealth in political union with the United States, occupying a strategic region of the western Pacific Ocean. It consists of 15 islands about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and laywer. Borja served as the Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands has a self governing government consisting of a locally elected governor, Lieutenant Governor and the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature. The current Lieutenant Governor is Eloy Inos, who was appointed to fill the vacancy created when...
from 1994 until 1998 under former Democratic Governor Froilan Tenorio
Froilan Tenorio
Froilan Cruz Tenorio was the fourth elected Governor of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Elected in 1993, he served one term, leaving office in 1998...
.
Early life
Borja was born on September 14, 1948, to parents, Antonia Sablan Camacho and Ricardo Tudela Borja. He married his wife, the former Mary Anne Mangloña Pangelinan, in July 1972. The couple have six children - Dora, Leticia, Jesse, Richard, Amanda and Emmanuel.He received a juris doctorate in 1974 from the Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
in Washington D.C.
Career
Borja served as an Associate JusticeAssociate Justice
Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...
of the Northern Mariana Islands Supreme Court
Northern Mariana Islands Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is the highest court of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , exercising civil and criminal appellate jurisdiction over commonwealth law matters...
from 1989 until 1993. He has also worked as a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in a law practice for several for several years.
In 1993, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Froilan Tenorio
Froilan Tenorio
Froilan Cruz Tenorio was the fourth elected Governor of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Elected in 1993, he served one term, leaving office in 1998...
chose Borja as his running mate
Running mate
A running mate is a person running together with another person on a joint ticket during an election. The term is most often used in reference to the person in the subordinate position but can also properly be used when referring to both candidates, such as "Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen were...
for the 1993 election. Tenorio and Borja were elected as the Governor and Lt. Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands in the gubernatorial election. Borja was sworn in as the 4th Lt. Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands on January 10, 1994. Tenorio was defeated in his bid for re-election in the 1997 gubernatorial election by Republican Pedro Tenorio
Pedro Tenorio
Pedro P. Tenorio was the second and fifth elected Governor of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.Tenorio was born on Saipan. He graduated from George Washington High School in Guam and attended the University of Guam. He has worked as a schoolteacher, a shipping...
. Borja left office on January 12, 1998 and was succeeded as Lt. Governor by Jesus Sablan
Jesus Sablan
Jesus Rosario Sablan is a Northern Mariana Islands politician. Sablan served as the Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands from January 12, 1998 until January 14, 2002 under former Governor Pedro Tenorio....
.
In the 2001 gubernatorial election campaign, Borja announced his candidacy for Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, choosing running mate Bridget Ichihara. His opponents in the election were Republican Juan Babauta, Covenant Party
Covenant Party (Northern Mariana Islands)
The Covenant Party is a political party in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands advocating government and financial reform. In the legislative elections of 2003, the Covenant Party won nine of eighteen seats. In the 2005 elections, the Covenant Party increased its position as one of the...
candidate Benigno Fitial and Democratic former Governor Froilan Tenorio
Froilan Tenorio
Froilan Cruz Tenorio was the fourth elected Governor of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Elected in 1993, he served one term, leaving office in 1998...
. Borja lost the 2001 election, coming in third behind winner Juan Babauta and Benigno Fitial. Babauta and his running mate, Diego Benevente, won the election with 44.9 of the vote, Fitial came in second with 25.5%, Borja placed third with 18.0% and Tenorio finished last with 11.5% of the total vote.
In April 2010, Borja announced his candidacy as a Democrat for Delegate
Delegate (United States Congress)
A delegate to Congress is a non-voting member of the United States House of Representatives who is elected from a U.S. territory and from Washington, D.C. to a two-year term. While unable to vote in the full House, a non-voting delegate may vote in a House committee of which the delegate is a member...
of the Northern Mariana Islands
Northern Mariana Islands' At-large congressional district
The Northern Mariana Islands' At-large congressional district encompasses the entire U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands . The territory does not have a voting member of Congress, but does elect a delegate who can participate in debates with the United States House of Representatives...
to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in the 2010 election
United States House of Representatives election in the Northern Mariana Islands, 2010
The 2010 Congressional election in the Northern Mariana Islands occurred on November 2, 2010 and elected the territory's Delegate to the United States House of Representatives...
. In a letter of intent to the chairmen of the CMNI Democratic Party Jesse T. Torres, Borja wrote, "I am highly qualified to fill the position of Washington delegate. In particular, my legal education at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, my experience as a justice of our Supreme Court
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
, my experience as lieutenant governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
, and my experience as a member of the NMI Commission on Federal Laws make me uniquely qualified to be the CNMI's Washington delegate." Borja officially filed to run for the seat on July 28, 2010.
Borja will challenge the incumbent Rep. Gregorio "Killi" Sablan
Gregorio Sablan
Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan is a Northern Mariana politician and former election commission director. Sablan was elected in 2008 as the first nonvoting delegate to the United States House of Representatives from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands...
, the first delegate ever elected from the Northern Mariana Islands to the U.S. House. Joe Camacho
Joe Camacho
Joseph James Norita Camacho is a Northern Mariana Islands lawyer and politician. He is a Representative in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives, as of 2009, and currently serves as the House's floor leader in the 16th Northern Marianas Legislature.Camacho is a candidate for...
of the
Covenant Party
Covenant Party (Northern Mariana Islands)
The Covenant Party is a political party in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands advocating government and financial reform. In the legislative elections of 2003, the Covenant Party won nine of eighteen seats. In the 2005 elections, the Covenant Party increased its position as one of the...
and Republican Juan Babauta, who served as Governor from 2002 until 2006, are also seeking the seat.