Past Leadership

Every member in our party's leadership donates their personal time, energy, and resources to the growth and progress of "The People's Party".

None of these members nor the executive director receive a salary to do the people's work.

The work they've done for many years is truly a labour of love. All for the love of our people, and our beautiful Marianas.

Jonathan Cabrera

Term: Mar 2022 - Aug 2024

Chairman

Interim chair Jonathan Pangelinan Del Rosario Cabrera has been a member of the party since 2010 and has served as party secretary twice. A 2012 CNMI Public School System Teacher of the Year, Cabrera has taught students at Saipan Southern High School and the Northern Marianas College and recently completed a Master of Divinity at Brite Divinity School (Fort Worth, Texas). Cabrera is proud to be the first queer person to lead a major political party in the CNMI.

During the party's Central Executive Committee meeting on April 12, 2024, Chairman Jonathan announced his official resignation. His reason was because of his upcoming relocation to the mainland to further his education and pursue his PhD. Chairman Jonathan agreed to remain the party's Chairman for the 2024 Democratic National Convention. With the NMI delegation, he also cast his virtual, unanimous vote for the Vice President and Democratic Nominee, Kamala Harris.The party wishes him well, and all the best of success.

Luella Marciano

Vice Chair

Interim vice chair Luella Ichihara Marciano, M.Ed., began her tenure as secretary of the party in 2020. A retired PSS educator, Marciano ran for office in 2020 and has since remained a loyal member of the party. She serves on the Women’s Committee, the Logistics Committee, and the Strategy Committee, all while remaining active in our community as a member of Refaluwasch for Good Governance and the Friends of San Isidro. In February 2024, Governor Arnold Palacios appointed her as the Acting Resident Executive for the Indigenous Affairs Office.

Shawna Indalecio

Treasurer

Interim treasurer Shawna Indalecio has over 15 years of experience in administrative and customer service, and in financial management. She has been actively engaged in various community-based and volunteer organizations and remains committed to her community and to public service. She looks forward to doing her part to better the CNMI and serve her people as a leader in the Democratic Party.

Melia Johnson

Term: Mar 2022 - Apr 2024

Secretary

Interim secretary Melia K. Johnson has taught hula for over 30 years and has owned and managed her own dance company for over a decade and thus brings to this position cultural and business acumen. A wife and a mother of four, Johnson is committed to public service, to the flourishing of the arts in the community, and to improving the lives of all the people of the CNMI. In 2023 under the Office of the Governor, Melia joined the Broadband Policy and Development Office as the BPD Admin Officer.

During the party's Central Executive Committee meeting on April 12, 2024, Chairman Jonathan also re-iterated Secretary Melia's ongoing request to step down as Secretary. Her reason was because of her busy work schedule and furthering her education in pursuit of her Master's Degree. The party wishes her well and all the best of success.

Nola Hix

Executive Director

After three years at the helm of the Democratic Party of the Northern Mariana Islands, Nola Kileleman Hix relocated to Guam, and stepped down as party chair to Executive Director. The year 2020 was seen as one of the greatest political success stories in the CNMI, and for Democrats across the country as Hix’s transformative leadership resulted in the election of 9 Democrats across the House and Senate. The CNMI was under Republican rule for over three decades to where the NMI Democrats went from 0 to 12 forming a democratic/independent super-majority in both the House and Senate.

Stephen Woodruff

Deputy Executive Director

Tina Sablan

DNC National Committeewoman

Former Rep. Tina Sablan (D-Saipan) joined Hix at the DNC's 2022 Spring Meeting in Washington, D.C., where she met with key members of the DNC including Chair Jaime Harrison, ASDC President Ken Martin, officers and members from the AAPI Caucus, the Women’s Caucus, and the Western Regional Caucus who pledged their support for her historic Gubernatorial campaign. Following the 2022 elections Tina was then appointed by Governor Arnold Palacios as his Senior Policy Advisor, before being named as the Special Assistant for Climate Policy and Planning in Oct 2023.

Mike White

DNC National Committeeman

Also at the March 2022 DNC meeting, was Michael White, who serves as the party’s National Committeeman. For the first time in DNC history, a committeeman from the territories was elected to two DNC councils, the Seniors and Climate Councils. White was also elected to an at-large position within the DNC’s Western Caucus.