| Arnold Palacios | |
| Order: | 10th |
| Office: | Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands |
| Lieutenant: | Dave Apatang |
| Term Start: | January 9, 2023 |
| Predecessor: | Ralph Torres |
| Office1: | 12th Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands |
| Governor1: | Ralph Torres |
| Term Start1: | January 14, 2019 |
| Term End1: | January 9, 2023 |
| Predecessor1: | Victor Hocog |
| Successor1: | David M. Apatang |
| Office2: | 19th President of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate |
| Term Start2: | January 10, 2017 |
| Term End2: | January 14, 2019 |
| Predecessor2: | Frank Borja |
| Successor2: | Victor Hocog |
| Office3: | 13th Speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives |
| Term Start3: | January 14, 2008 |
| Term End3: | January 11, 2010 |
| Predecessor3: | Oscar M. Babauta |
| Successor3: | Froilan Tenorio |
| Birth Name: | Arnold Indalecio Palacios |
| Birth Date: | 22 August 1955 |
| Birth Place: | Saipan, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (now Northern Mariana Islands) |
| 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 tenth governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, since 2023. A political independent, he previously served as the 12th lieutenant governor of the Northern Mariana Islands from 2019 to 2023, and was a member of the Republican Party until 2021. He represented Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate.[1] [2]
He was born August 22, 1955, on Saipan, the son of Dr. Francisco T. Palacios, a member of the Marianas Political Status Commission.[3] [4] Palacios graduated from Portland State University with a BS in business administration.[5] Palacios is married to Wella Sablan Palacios and they have four children: Arnold Gerard, Nicole, Tiana and Eric. He served as the Director of Fish and Wildlife during the 1990s.[6]
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.[7] He represented Election District 3 in the House, which encompasses portions of Saipan and the Northern Islands.[8]
Palacios was the running mate of four-time gubernatorial candidate Heinz Hofschneider in the 2009 election. Between his time in the House and Senate, Palacios served as Secretary of the Department of Lands and Natural Resources under Governor Eloy Inos.[9]
In the 2014 general election, Palacios was elected to the Northern Mariana Islands Senate, alongside Justo Songao Quitugua, defeating seven candidates for two seats from the 3rd Senatorial District (Saipan).[10] [11] He was sworn into office as a Senator in the 19th Commonwealth Legislature on January 12, 2015. At the start of the 19th Commonwealth Legislature, Palacios was elected Floor Leader by a unanimous roll call.[12]
Palacios won as an independent candidate for Governor in the 2022 election, running with Saipan mayor David M. Apatang as his running-mate.
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