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Arnold Palacios
Arnold Palacios
10th Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; January 9, 2023
President	Joe Biden
Lieutenant	Dave Apatang
Preceded by	Ralph Torres
12th Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
	In office; January 14, 2019 – January 9, 2023
Governor	Ralph Torres
Preceded by	Victor Hocog
Succeeded by	David M. Apatang
19th President of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate
	In office; January 10, 2017 – January 14, 2019
Preceded by	Frank Borja
Succeeded by	Victor Hocog
13th Speaker of the; Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives
	In office; January 14, 2008 – January 11, 2010
Preceded by	Oscar M. Babauta
Succeeded by	Froilan Tenorio
Personal details
Born	Arnold Indalecio Palacios; 22 August 1955 (age 69); Saipan, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (now Northern Mariana Islands)
Political party	Republican (before 2021); Independent (2021–present)
Education	Portland 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. A political independent, he previously served as the 12th lieutenant governor of the Northern Mariana Islands from 2019 to 2023, and was a member of the Republican Party until 2021. He represented Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate.^[1]^[2]

Early and personal life

He was born August 22, 1955, on Saipan, the son of Dr. Francisco T. Palacios, a member of the Marianas Political Status Commission.^[3]^[4] Palacios graduated from Portland State University with a BS in business administration.^[5]^[6] Palacios is married to Wella Sablan Palacios^[5] and they have four children: Arnold Gerard, Nicole, Tiana, and Eric. He served as the Director of Fish and Wildlife during the 1990s.^[7]

Political career

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.^[8] He represented Election District 3 in the House, which encompasses portions of Saipan and the Northern Islands.^[5]

Palacios was the running mate of four-time gubernatorial candidate Heinz Hofschneider in the 2009 election. Between his time in the House and Senate, Palacios served as Secretary of the Department of Lands and Natural Resources under Governor Eloy Inos.^[9]

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).^[10]^[11] 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.^[12]

Palacios won as an independent candidate for Governor in the 2022 election, running with Saipan mayor David M. Apatang as his running-mate.^[1]

References

^ ^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.
^ Limol, K.-Andrea Evarose. "UPDATED: Team Palacios-Apatang wins". Marianas Variety News & Views. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
^ "N Mariana Islands Lt. Governor Arnold Palacios". NLGA Members Bio Book (PDF). National Lieutenant Governors Association. January 20, 2022. p. 30. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
^ Erediano, Emmanuel T. (November 7, 2022). "Palacios, Sablan cast early votes on Citizenship Day". Marianas Variety. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Representative Arnold I. Palacios". Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
^ "Gov. Arnold Palacios". National Governors Association. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
^ "Fish and Wildlife". State Administrative Officials Classified by Function. Lexington, Kentucky: Council of State Governments. 1991. p. 114. ISBN 0872929620 – via Internet Archive.
^ 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.
^ Eugenio, Haidee V. (September 16, 2014). "Igisomar is GOP's bet for special election". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
^ Rabago, Mark (November 10, 2014). "Old guard, new faces recognize CNMI challenges". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
^ "Commonwealth Election Commission - Legislative Initiatives". Archived from the original on October 22, 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
^ 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

Appearances on C-SPAN

Political offices
Preceded by Oscar M. Babauta	Speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives 2008–2010	Succeeded by Froilan Tenorio
Preceded by Francisco Borja	President of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate 2017–2019	Succeeded by Victor Hocog
Preceded by Victor Hocog	Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands 2019–2023	Succeeded by Dave Apatang
Preceded by Ralph Torres	Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands 2023–present	Incumbent