Tenorio, Froilan C. (Froilan Cruz), 1939-2020

<p>Froilan Cruz "Lang" Tenorio (September 9, 1939 – May 4, 2020) was a Northern Mariana Islands politician as a member of CNMI Democratic Party, and also was the fourth Governor of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Elected in 1993, he served one term, leaving office in 1998. During his governorship and most of his political career, Tenorio was a member of the Democratic Party of the Northern Mariana Islands, which was not then affiliated with the American Democratic Party. However, he later switched his affiliation to the Covenant Party. As of 2021, he is the last Democrat to serve as governor of the territory.</p>

<p>Tenorio graduated from the Territorial College of Guam in 1962 with an associate's degree before earning a bachelor's degree in civil engineering at Marquette University in 1967.</p>

<p>Tenorio was subsequently employed by the Los Angeles, California department of public works. In 1972 he was hired by the Micronesian Construction Company. He founded his own construction company two years later.</p>

FROILAN C. TENORIO graduated from the Territorial College of Guam with an associate of arts degree in 1962, and then went on to earn a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree in 1967 from Marquette University in Milwaukee. From 1967 to 1972, he worked for the city of Los Angeles’ department of public works. In 1972 he was appointed general manager of Micronesian Construction Company. In 1974 he founded Tenorio Construction Company. In 1979 he was elected to the senate of the Northern Mariana Commonwealth Legislature, serving one four-year term. He then was elected to three consecutive terms as Resident Representative to the United States in Washington, D.C., serving from 1984 to 1990. He made an unsuccessful bid for the governorship of the commonwealth in 1988 but won election as governor four years later. During his governorship, Tenorio emphasized fiscal responsibility and reorganized the commonwealth government.