Auntie Charo's Soapbox

Coffman described Fitial as being a man of great business accumen. He didn't say that he was a Donald Trump in so many words but did say that he had dealings with the Willie Tan family and we all know that that family knows how to make money so if he spent any time at wll working with them he had to have learned something about how to make it. Surely the statement that the man said about not spending a dollar ten when you only made a dollar was something we all should learn from at our local government.
Coffman described the man's speech somewhat as the laying down of a law for his team to follow....do as I say or find yourself another job. This is going to be a lean machine, these are going to be lean times and if you don't like it, you'd better cut your losses now....
I don't know what his campaign promises were. I don't know what 'magic' he used to get elected in an island where tourism was down, where Japan Airlines pulled out, the economy hit rock bottom, hotels at the same level, power going on and mostly 'off', but he and his team got elected. Did he use the words 'hope'? Did he say that he was going to restore 'hope' to the people? To the government? Did he promise to work with his vice.governor 'til their term was over working towards the benefit of the people no matter what?
This speech he gave the people who came to his inaguration, will he stand by his words? Or, will he soon forget the words and hide behind several mouthpeices, run away from reporters that come to ask the tough questions?
Is this Ben Fitial person the tough person his speech makes him out to be? Will he really walk the talk? Will he really cut the fat and make that government work for the people and not for just for a select few? Will he put salaries on hold until the government turns a profit and refuse to increase the saints working in his immediate office, demoralizing all other agencies?
While Coffman was describing the inauguration of this Ben Fitial, I was imagining the kind of man that we used to look up to but are now long gone. There are no longer any role models to set the examples, the likes of the Manuel Guerreros, the Manuel Lujans, the Carlos Taitanos, the James Sablans, and the likes of the Tony Won Pats and many more like them that did and said what they meant...that held public office because it helped the people..there was a time when public servants earned a mere $100 a year for their services.
I will be watching this new CNMI governor and will be cheering him on, and hoping that he will be a shining example for the next governor that this community elects for this territory.
Governor Fitial, you have your work cut out for you! Congratulations on your election. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope you suceed in all your goals!