Ralph Torres

Ralph Torres
9th Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
Incumbent
Assumed office December 29, 2015
Lieutenant	Victor Hocog
Preceded by	Eloy Inos
10th Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
In office January 12, 2015 – December 29, 2015
Governor	Eloy Inos
Preceded by	Jude Hofschneider
Succeeded by	Victor Hocog
Personal details
Born	Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres August 6, 1979 Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Diann Mendiola Tudela
Alma mater	Boise State University

Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres (born August 6, 1979) is an American Republican politician from Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. He has served as the 9th Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands since the death of Governor Eloy Inos on December 28, 2015 (P.S.T.). He previously served as the 10th Lieutenant Governor, which he was elected to in 2014.^[1]

Background and personal life

Torres graduated from Boise High School in 1996. He received a BS in Political Science from Boise State University in 2001.^[2] In 2004, he began to work with his brother at Torres Brothers, Attorneys at Law.

Torres has five children with his wife Diann Mendiola Tudela: Ralph Anthony, Vaniqa Marie, Deon Titus, Tristan Dane and Divannie.^[2]

Political career

Commonwealth Legislature

In 2008, Torres won the election to the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives. In 2010, he won the election to the Northern Mariana Islands Senate, acting in a variety of roles. From 2010 to 2015 he was Chairman of the Health & Welfare Committee. In February 2013, he became the President of the Senate.^[2]

Lieutenant Governorship

Torres became Lieutenant Governor on January 12, 2015.

Governorship

Upon the death of incumbent Governor Eloy Inos, Torres became the Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands on December 29, 2015.^[3][4] In accordance with the constitution, the Senate president, Victor Hocog, became Lieutenant Governor.^[5]

Torres approved a bill, public law 19-42, that adds a $1,000 excise tax on pistol purchases, this is the highest tax on pistols in the US.^[6]

See also

• Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
• Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands

References

1. "Commonwealth Election Commission - Election 2014 Results". Archived from the original on November 30, 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
2. "Ralph DLG. Torres biography". Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Governor's Office. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
3. Rabago, Mark (29 December 2015). "Gov. Eloy Inos Passes Away". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
4. Manglona, Thomas (29 December 2015). "CNMI Governor Eloy Inos Dies". Pacific News Center. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
5. New governor, lt. governor sworn in Marianas Variety December 29, 2015
6. $1,000 Gun Tax pushed as "model for the states"