David M. Apatang

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]

Dave Apatang
13th Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
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
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

Education

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

Career

Military service

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 fiirst 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

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

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 is currently serving his second term which ends January 2023.[14] His wife, Antonia Pangelinan Mafnas, died in Hawaii on December 14, 2016.[7][15] He was sworn in on January 12, 2015.[16] In 2021, the House passed a resolution to honor Apatang's 50 years of service to the people of the CNMI.[14]

2022 lieutenant gubernatorial election

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]

References
  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.
  3. Evarose Limol, K-Andrea (April 28, 2021). "Apatang may endorse GOP hopeful for mayor". Marianas Variety. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  4. "BREAKING NEWS: Palacios to run for governor in 2022". Saipan Tribune. 2021-10-20. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  5. Dayao, Jun (June 11, 2014). "David Apatang announces his candidacy for Saipan mayor". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  6. "The Mayor of Saipan". Municipality of Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  7. "Vote #6 David Mundo Apatang" (PDF). Marians Variety. Vol. 23, no. 170. October 23, 1995. p. 2. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  8. Munar, Mar-Vic C. (November 6, 1995). "GOP by Landslide" (PDF). Vol. 23, no. 170.
  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. University of Hawaiʻi Press. 19 (1): 190. 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. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  14. De La Torre, Ferdie (7 January 2021). "House of Reps honors Mayor Apatang with resolution". The Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  15. Santos, Michael T. (December 16, 2016). "Saipan mayor's wife passes away". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  16. "Apatang is sworn in as the new mayor of Saipan". 12 January 2015.
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