Benjamin Manglona, Northern Mariana Islands politician, Died at 78

Benjamin Taisacan Manglona was born on March 31, 1938, and died on April 24, 2016.

He was a politician and civil engineer in the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

Benjamin was the CNMI’s longest serving elected official having served as a congressman, senator, and former mayor of Rota (the third largest island in the CNMI chain).

He served as the third Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands of the Northern Mariana Islands from 1990 to 1994 and as Mayor of Rota from 1998 to 2006.

During 1963, he launched his political career when he was elected to the Marianas District Legislature, serving from 1963 to 1965.

Then, he became a representative in the Congress of Micronesia from 1965 to 1970, as the Northern Mariana Islands were part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands at the time.

Benjamin became a member of the Marianas Political Status Commission representing Rota in 1972.

Benjamin Manglona passed away at 78 yrs old.