John Mafel

John Mafel is a legislator and traditional chief from Rull, Yap. He has served multiple terms in the Yap State Legislature, where he is Chairman of the Committee on Resources, Education & Development. Unusually for Yap -where traditional chiefs constitute a so-called “fourth branch” of government- Mafel has combined formal political authority in the legislative branch with customary leadership on the Council of Pilung.

Political Career

Mafel first ran for the Yap State Legislature in 2014 but was unsuccessful. He later won election in the 2018 general race, securing one of the two seats representing Election District 1 with 1,009 votes, just behind Nicholas Figirlaarwon.

During his first term, Mafel rose to chair the Committee on Resources, Education & Development, guiding legislation on education, infrastructure, and land management. In 2021, he co-signed the resolution to impeach Governor Henry Falan, a move that reflected broader disputes within Yap’s leadership over executive authority and relations with the national government in Palikir.

By 2023, as a member of the Eleventh Yap State Legislature, Mafel co-sponsored Resolution No. 11-44, aligning Yap with the Pohnpei Legislature in condemning the FSM Congress for overriding a presidential veto of Public Law No. 23-30—a measure seen by many state leaders as expanding congressional control over state revenues. The action reinforced Mafel’s image as a defender of Yap’s autonomy within the FSM federation.

That same year, he joined six other senators in introducing Bill No. 11-11, which proposed a statewide referendum on whether Yap should review its political status within the FSM. As Committee Chairman, Mafel signed the report supporting the bill, citing “overreach and centralization by the National Government” and calling for a reaffirmation of Yap’s right to self-determination.

Re-elected in 2022, Mafel continued in his leadership role through 2024 and 2025, chairing hearings on fiscal and infrastructure policy and maintaining his advocacy for state sovereignty. Holding chiefly titles in both Rull and Gilman, he has represented community interests in both customary and formal arenas, including as a named party in FSM v. Kyowa Violet, a case concerning environmental jurisdiction. His dual status as chief and lawmaker has reinforced his authority as a voice for Yap’s political independence within the FSM.

Outside the Legislature, Mafel has served on the Board of the Micronesian Legal Services Corporation and worked with Peace Corps programs in Yap as a local liaison. He also participated in a Yap State cultural delegation event in China, narrating the significance of Yapese traditional attire—an appearance that underscored Yap’s cultural diplomacy and engagement with the PRC government.

Controversies

Press reports state that Mafel filed to run for office despite a felony conviction and received a gubernatorial pardon only weeks after his election, raising questions about his eligibility under the Yap State Constitution. Despite the debate, the results stood, and he continued to serve in the Legislature.

2025 FSM Congress Candidacy

In September 2025, Mafel announced his candidacy in the special election to complete the term of the late Senator and former President Joseph J. Urusemal. The election, scheduled for November 12, 2025, will determine who will fill the remainder of the term as Yap State’s at-large representative to the FSM Congress. Traditionally, this congressional seat—one of two allotted to Yap—has always been held by candidates from the Outer Islands and is widely regarded as their reserved domain within Yap’s informal balance of representation.

Alongside Mafel, three Outer Island leaders entered the race: Faustino Yangmog of Ulithi, Andrew R. Yatilman of Satawal, and Jesse Salalu of Fais. Paradoxically -and in what may be understood as a direct response to Salalu’s precedent-breaking ascent to the governorship in 2021- Mafel filed to run, challenging for the first time the long-standing understanding that the at-large seat belongs to the Outer Islands.