Arnold Palacios | |
---|---|
9th Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands | |
Assumed office January 9, 2023 | |
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 |
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 Babauta |
Succeeded by | Froilan Tenorio |
Personal details | |
Born | Arnold Indalecio Palacios 22 August 1955 [1] 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 ninth governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, since 2023. He previously served as the 12th lieutenant governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, from 2019 to 2023. He represented Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate. Formerly a member of the Republican Party, he is the governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, having won the 2022 election. [2] [3]
Palacios graduated from Portland State University with as BS in business administration. [4] [5] Palacios is married to Wella Sablan Palacios [4] and they have four children: Arnold Gerard, Nicole, Tiana and Eric.
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. [6] He represented Election District 3 in the House, which encompasses portions of Saipan and the Northern Islands. [4]
Palacios was the running mate of four-time gubernatorial candidate Heinz Hofschneider in the 2009 election. If elected, Palacios would have become the Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands in 2010. Instead, he was elected in 2018 with incumbent Governor Ralph Torres to begin a term in January 2019.
Palacios won as an independent candidate for Governor in the 2022 election, running with Saipan mayor David M. Apatang as his running-mate. [2]