Juan N. Babauta
Encyclopedia
Juan Nekai Babauta is a Northern Mariana Islander politician. Babauta served as the sixth elected Governor of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for one term from January 14, 2002 until January 9, 2006.
, Saipan
, Northern Mariana Islands on September 7, 1953. He is the oldest of his family's nine children. Babauta completed elementary school on Saipan. His parents then sent him to the mainland United States to continue his education. Babuata moved to Enosburg Falls, Vermont
where he attended Enosburg Falls High School while living on a dairy farm with a host family for three years. Babauta, who was student body president during his senior year and a member of the National Honors Society, graduated from Enosburg in 1972.
Babauta attended a summer session at Johnson State College
of Vermont
in 1976. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in American history and political science
from Eastern New Mexico University
in 1976 and a Master of Arts
in political science from ENMU that same year. In 1979, Babauta completed a Master of Science
degree in health planning and administration from the University of Cincinnati
.
from April to August 1977, based on Saipan. He became the executive director for the Commonwealth Health Planning and Development Agency in May 1979 after completing his master's degree at the University of Cincinnati. He remained executive director until January 1986.
Babauta was elected to the Northern Mariana Islands Senate
in November 1985 representing the 3rd Senatorial District, which encompassed Saipan
and the Northern Islands Municipality
. He took office in January 1986 and served for one, four-year term in the Fifth and Sixth Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislatures. He served as the Senate floor leader
from January 1986 to January 1988 and the chairman of the Fiscal Affairs committee from January 1986 until August 1987. Babauta also chaired the Committee on Health, Education and Welfare from January 1986 and January 1990 and the Committee on Rules and Procedure from January 1988 until he left office in January 1990. Babauta introduced The Education Act of 1988 as a Senator.
. He served as Resident Representative for three, four-year terms from January 1990 until leaving office to January 2001 to become Governor.
. Babauta and his running mate
, Diego Benavente
, won the election with 5,512 votes, the largest number of votes ever received by a gubernatorial candidate in the Northern Mariana Islands at the time. He defeated Covenant Party candidate Benigno Fitial, independent Heinz Hofschneider
and former Governor and now defunct Reform Party candidate Froilan Tenorio
respectively. Babauta and Benavente were sworn into office on January 14, 2002.
Babauta was defeated for re-election in the 2005 gubernatorial election
. Babauta and Benavente came in third place in the gubernatorial election, behind Covenant Party
candidate Benigno Fitial and independent Heinz Hofscheider, in an election that marked the worst defeat for the Republican Party in its history.
Benigno Fitial was elected Governor over independent Heinz Hofschneider by just 99 votes after fifteen days tallying absentee ballots, the closest gubernatorial election in Northern Mariana Islands history at the time. Fitial won with 3809 votes (28.07%) while independent Hofschneider came in a close second with 3,710 votes (27.33%). Babauta placed a disappointing third place with 3,610 votes, or 26.66%. Froilan Tenorio
came in fourth with 2442 votes (17.99%). In a concession speech at his home, Babauta told supporters, "Nobody's to blame but me." Babauta left office on January 9, 2006.
Four years later, Babauta unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination in the 2009 gubernatorial election
with running mate, Galvin S. Deleon Guerrero, a principal at Mount Carmel School principal. Babauta was defeated in the Republican primary election
on June 27, 2009, by Heinz Hofschneider. Hofschneider received 3,382 votes in the primary election, while Babauta garnered 2,986 votes. Babauta reiterated a unity pledge with Hofschneider after the primary and endorsed Hofschneider in his bid for the governorship.
In April 2010, Babauta declared his candidacy for Northern Mariana Islands' Delegate to the United States House of Representatives
as a Republican against incumbent Rep. Gregorio Kilili Sablan
. Babauta will face Sablan, as well as Democrat Jesus Borja
and Covenant candidate Joseph Camacho
in the 2010 United States House of Representatives election in the Northern Mariana Islands
on November 2, 2010.
Early life and education
Juan Babauta was born in TanapagTanapag
Tanapag is a settlement on the island of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands. It is located close to Tanapag Beach on the northwest coast, just to the north of Capital Hill, the island group's centre of government...
, Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
, Northern Mariana Islands on September 7, 1953. He is the oldest of his family's nine children. Babauta completed elementary school on Saipan. His parents then sent him to the mainland United States to continue his education. Babuata moved to Enosburg Falls, Vermont
Enosburg Falls, Vermont
Enosburg Falls is a village in the town of Enosburgh in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,473 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
where he attended Enosburg Falls High School while living on a dairy farm with a host family for three years. Babauta, who was student body president during his senior year and a member of the National Honors Society, graduated from Enosburg in 1972.
Babauta attended a summer session at Johnson State College
Johnson State College
Johnson State College is a small public liberal arts college, founded in 1828 by John Chesamore at Johnson in the U.S. state of Vermont. Johnson's president is Barbara E. Murphy and its board chair is Gary M. Moore.- History and governance :...
of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
in 1976. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in American history and political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from Eastern New Mexico University
Eastern New Mexico University
Eastern New Mexico University , frequently called Eastern, is a state university in Portales, Roosevelt County, New Mexico, USA...
in 1976 and a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in political science from ENMU that same year. In 1979, Babauta completed a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree in health planning and administration from the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
.
Career
Babauta's interest in health planning began when he worked as a health planner for the Trust Territory of the Pacific IslandsTrust Territory of the Pacific Islands
The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands was a United Nations trust territory in Micronesia administered by the United States from 1947 to 1986.-History:...
from April to August 1977, based on Saipan. He became the executive director for the Commonwealth Health Planning and Development Agency in May 1979 after completing his master's degree at the University of Cincinnati. He remained executive director until January 1986.
Babauta was elected to the Northern Mariana Islands Senate
Northern Mariana Islands Senate
The Northern Mariana Islands Senate is the upper house of the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature. The Senate consists of nine senators representing three senatorial districts , each a multi-member constituency with three senators.In the November 2007 elections, the three senators up...
in November 1985 representing the 3rd Senatorial District, which encompassed Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
and the Northern Islands Municipality
Northern Islands Municipality
Northern Islands Municipality is one of the four main political divisions of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. It consists of a long string of the northernmost islands of the Northern Marianas, including Farallon de Pajaros, the Maug Islands, Asuncion, Agrihan, Pagan, Alamagan,...
. He took office in January 1986 and served for one, four-year term in the Fifth and Sixth Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislatures. He served as the Senate floor leader
Floor Leader
Floor Leaders are leaders of their political parties in each of the houses of the legislature.- Senate :In the United States Senate, they are elected by their respective party conferences to serve as the chief Senate spokesmen for their parties and to manage and schedule the legislative and...
from January 1986 to January 1988 and the chairman of the Fiscal Affairs committee from January 1986 until August 1987. Babauta also chaired the Committee on Health, Education and Welfare from January 1986 and January 1990 and the Committee on Rules and Procedure from January 1988 until he left office in January 1990. Babauta introduced The Education Act of 1988 as a Senator.
Resident Representative
In November 1989, Babauta was elected as the third Resident Representative of the Northern Mariana Islands in Washington D.C.. He took office in January 1990, succeeding Froilan TenorioFroilan 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...
. He served as Resident Representative for three, four-year terms from January 1990 until leaving office to January 2001 to become Governor.
Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
In November 2001, Babauta was elected Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands in the four-way gubernatorial election as a RepublicanRepublican Party (Northern Mariana Islands)
The Republican Party is a political party in the Northern Mariana Islands. In the 2001 gubernatorial election Juan Babauta of the Republican Party won with 42.8% of the vote...
. Babauta and 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...
, Diego Benavente
Diego Benavente
Diego Tenorio Benavente is a Northern Mariana Islands politician. Benavente, a Republican, served as the Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands under former Governor Juan Babauta from January 14, 2002, to January 9, 2006....
, won the election with 5,512 votes, the largest number of votes ever received by a gubernatorial candidate in the Northern Mariana Islands at the time. He defeated Covenant Party candidate Benigno Fitial, independent Heinz Hofschneider
Heinz Hofschneider
Heinz Sablan Hofschneider is a Northern Mariana Islands politician. Hofschneider served as the Speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives until 2003....
and former Governor and now defunct Reform Party 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...
respectively. Babauta and Benavente were sworn into office on January 14, 2002.
Babauta was defeated for re-election in the 2005 gubernatorial election
Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election, 2005
The Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election of 2005 were the closest gubernatorial election in history, and resulted in the election of Benigno Fitial as Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands. Fitial narrowly defeated independent Heinz Hofschneider and incumbent Republican Governor Juan N...
. Babauta and Benavente came in third place in the gubernatorial election, behind 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 independent Heinz Hofscheider, in an election that marked the worst defeat for the Republican Party in its history.
Benigno Fitial was elected Governor over independent Heinz Hofschneider by just 99 votes after fifteen days tallying absentee ballots, the closest gubernatorial election in Northern Mariana Islands history at the time. Fitial won with 3809 votes (28.07%) while independent Hofschneider came in a close second with 3,710 votes (27.33%). Babauta placed a disappointing third place with 3,610 votes, or 26.66%. 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...
came in fourth with 2442 votes (17.99%). In a concession speech at his home, Babauta told supporters, "Nobody's to blame but me." Babauta left office on January 9, 2006.
Four years later, Babauta unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination in the 2009 gubernatorial election
Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election, 2009
The Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election, 2009 was held on November 7, 2009 to determine the Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands....
with running mate, Galvin S. Deleon Guerrero, a principal at Mount Carmel School principal. Babauta was defeated in the Republican primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
on June 27, 2009, by Heinz Hofschneider. Hofschneider received 3,382 votes in the primary election, while Babauta garnered 2,986 votes. Babauta reiterated a unity pledge with Hofschneider after the primary and endorsed Hofschneider in his bid for the governorship.
Recent career
Babauta also worked as the publisher of Homeland Magazine from 2007 until 2009.In April 2010, Babauta declared his candidacy for Northern Mariana Islands' Delegate 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...
as a Republican against incumbent Rep. Gregorio Kilili 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...
. Babauta will face Sablan, as well as Democrat Jesus Borja
Jesus Borja
Jesus "Jesse" Camacho Borja 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....
and Covenant candidate Joseph 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...
in the 2010 United States House of Representatives election in the Northern Mariana Islands
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...
on November 2, 2010.