Benigno Fitial
Benigno Repeki Fitial (born November 27, 1945) is a Northern Marianan politician who served was the sixth governor of the Northern Mariana Islands. The second longest-serving governor in CNMI history, Fitial was elected on November 6, 2005, assumed office on January 9, 2006, and was re-elected to a (five-year) second term in 2009. He was impeached by the CNMI House of Representatives on February 11, 2013, and was scheduled to face trial before the CNMI Senate to determine if he should be removed from office. He resigned on February 20, 2013, after 7 years, 1 month, and 11 days in office.
Benigno Fitial | |
|---|---|
Fitial in 2009 | |
| 6th Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands | |
| In office January 9, 2006 – February 20, 2013 | |
| Lieutenant | Timothy Villagomez Eloy Inos |
| Preceded by | Juan Babauta |
| Succeeded by | Eloy Inos |
| Speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives | |
| In office January 12, 2004 – January 9, 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Heinz Hofschneider |
| Succeeded by | Oscar Babauta |
| In office January 10, 2000 – January 14, 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Diego T. Benavente |
| Succeeded by | Heinz Hofschneider |
| In office January 11, 1982 – January 9, 1984 | |
| Preceded by | Joaquin Pangelinan |
| Succeeded by | Vicente Sablan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Benigno Repeki Fitial November 27, 1945 Saipan, Mariana Islands, South Pacific Mandate |
| Political party | Republican (before 2001, 2011–present) Covenant (2001–2011) |
| Spouse | Josie Padiermos |
| Children | 6 |
| Education | University of Guam (BBA) |
Fitial founded the Covenant Party in 2001 after leaving the Republican Party. He rejoined the Republican Party on January 5, 2011, announcing that his goal would be to merge the Covenant Party back into the Republican Party.
Fitial was the first governor in any US territory or commonwealth to be impeached and only the 13th governor in the history of the United States. On February 11 & 12, 2013 the CNMI House of Representatives voted to impeach Fitial on 18 different charges contained in Articles of Impeachment. The charges include neglect of duties, commission of felonies and abuse of power.
Rather than facing an impeachment trial before the CNMI Senate which was set for March 7, 2013, Benigno Repeki Fitial became the first governor in CNMI history to resign from office on February 20, 2013. In his resignation letter he cited "personal health" reasons and the "best interests of the Commonwealth".