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Benigno Fitial
6th Governor of Northern Mariana Islands
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 9, 2006
Lieutenant(s)	Timothy P. Villagomez
Preceded by	Juan N. Babauta
Succeeded by	Incumbent
Born	November 27, 1945 (1945-11-27) (age 62) Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
Political party	Covenant Party
Spouse	Josie Fitial
Profession	Financial Executive

Benigno Repeki Fitial (born November 27, 1945) is the governor of the Northern Mariana Islands. Fitial was elected on November 6, 2005. He was previously the Speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives in its 24th session. A member of the Covenant Party, Fitial is a resident and former representative of Precinct 3, which includes parts of Saipan and the northern islands.

Born in 1945 and raised in a Satawalese family, Fitial graduated with honors from Mt. Carmel High School in 1964. He also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis on business management from the University of Guam. According to his official Web site, he is recognized as a University of Guam "Distinguished Alumni" [1]

Fitial is the sixth elected governor of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, having been sworn in during 2006. He defeated incumbent Republican Governor Juan N. Babauta during the 2005 gubarnatorial election with 28.1 percent of the total vote. The 2005 gubernatorial election was the closest in the history of the Commonwealth. It’s Now Governor Fitial

Fitial is the first elected Northern Mariana governor of Carolinian decent. [2] The Carolinians are a minority group whose ancestors immigrated to the Northern Marianas in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, from the islands of Yap and Chuuk in what is now the Federated States of Micronesia. The majority indigenous group on the Northern Marianas are Chamorros. Chamorro candidates have usually won the governor elections in the past. Fitial only won 1/4 of the total votes of the CNMI, which is why there is a petition circulating to require more than 50 percent of votes to become elected governor.^{[citation needed]}

Fitial has faced many challenges during his term as governor, including budget shortfalls, a weak economy, and declining numbers of tourists from Japan. He implemented a dress code with business attire for all members of his cabinet shortly after his inauguration. [3]

Many observers and prominent publications (such as the Marianas Variety) have accused Fitial of concentrating power in his office and making decisions autocratically [4]. This includes a decision made to abolish the autonomy of at least two government agencies, with their functions being transferred to the executive [5]. The governor and his supporters have asserted that drastic measures need to be taken to cut excessive government spending during the tenure of the previous governor, Juan Babauta [6]. [7].

Fitial describes himself as a "good friend" of convicted US lobbyist Jack Abramoff, which has caused some controversy both in the CNMI and Washington D.C. [8].

He is married to Josie Fitial. The couple has two children.

Northern Mariana Islands

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of the Northern Mariana Islands

Governor Benigno R. Fitial Legislature Political parties Elections: 2007

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• Government:
  • Speaker of the House of Representatives, 3rd, 12th, & 14th NMI Legislature
  • Vice Speaker, 5th NMI Legislature
  • Minority Leader, 2nd and 4th NMI Legislature
  • Chief Administrative Officer, 1st NMI Legislature
  • Budget Officer, 1st NMI Legislature
  • Budget Analyst, Trust Territory Government
  • News Director, KJQR Radio Station

• Business:
  • President, Bank of Saipan
  • Vice President, Tan Holdings Corporation
  • Special Consultant, L&T Corporation
  • President, Century Insurance Corporation
  • President, Century Travel Corporation
  • President, Consolidated Transportation Services Inc. (CTSI)
  • President, Pacific Oriental Inc. (POI)
  • President, Home Improvement (MPI)

• Politics & Civic Contributions:
  • Founder, CNMI Covenant Party
  • Chairman, Northern Marianas Republican Party
  • Chairman, Bush for President Committee for the CNMI
  • Chairman, CNMI Zoning Board
  • Chairman, NMI Trusteeship Termination Task Force
  • Chairman, 1st CNMI Civil Service Commission
  • Chairman, Saipan Municipal Scholarship Board
  • Member, CNMI Tax Task Force
  • Member, Republican Presidential Task Force (US)
  • Delegate, 1st Northern Marianas Constitutional Convention
  • Chairman, Constitutional Convention Committee(s) on Tax, Public Debt, Education, & Local Government

• Office of the Governor, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
  • Biography of Gov. Benigno R. Fitial
• Pacific Magazine: "The Business Governors": The Inauguration of Gov. Benigno Fitial and Lt. Gov. Timothy Villagomez
• Covenant Party Site

v • d • e Governors of the Northern Mariana Islands
Camacho • P.P. Tenorio • Guerrero • F.C. Tenorio • P.P. Tenorio • Babauta • Fitial