In 2007, took a position with the Office of the Public Auditor in the Federated States of Micronesia. He returned to Saipan in 2010 and took a number of government positions including director of the Central Statistics Division of the CNMI Department of Commerce, deputy secretary of Commerce, grants manager for the Office of Grants Management, and special assistant for Communications and Protocol for the Office of the Governor.[3][4]
Political career
He was first elected to the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives in the 2016 general election.[3] He was the top vote-getter among the twelve candidates running for six seats in Precinct #3.[5] He was reelected in 2018 and 2020. On January 13, 2021, after the speaker election, the Republican caucus elected Blanco as minority leader.[6] Later that month, he was elected vice chair of the 22nd Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation.[7]
Around the time of his death, he was planning to run for the Northern Mariana Islands Senate in the 2022 general election.[8] In the special election to fill the vacancy caused by his passing, Democratic candidate Corina Magofna defeated Republican candidate Grace Sablan-Vaiagae.[9] His fellow Republicans chose Angel Demapan to succeed him as minority leader.[10]
Death and legacy
Blanco died on July 23, 2021.[11] In 2023, the Ma'afala Breadfruit Program, a program created by a task force that Blanco led while at the Office of Grants Management, was renamed the Ivan A. Blanco Breadfruit Program.[4][12]
References
^Rosario, Venetia S. (House Journal Clerk) (February 8, 2019). "House Communication 21-6"(PDF). Journal of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives. 21 (2): 14. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
^Rosario, Venetia S. (House Journal Clerk). "House Communication 22-1"(PDF). Journal of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives. 22 (2): 11. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
