“As I step forward to serve you, I stand on the faith our elders taught us: that with God, nothing is impossible. His love sustains us, His power guides us, and when we put our people first, He opens doors no human barrier can close.”
Mark 10:27 “…Ma inge upa sin mwet u, tusruktu tia upa sin God; tuh God El ku in oru ma nukewa.”
Every Kosraean deserves access to their basic needs.
Our administration will work hard to ensure everyone has access to clean water, healthy food, public transportation, quality healthcare and education — building a foundation for resilience and prosperity.
“A Proud Daughter of Kosrae. A New Generation of Leadership.”
Delivering Solutions Today. Building Resilience for Tomorrow. Moving Forward Together.
A Daughter of Kosrae.
Shanty Sigrah Asher carries a name woven into the history and soil of Kosrae — and a career that has taken that heritage to the highest levels of education, government, and conservation across the Pacific.
Born of Kosrae’s people and shaped by its values, Shanty is driven by a deep love for her island home. Her upbringing instilled in her a strong Christian faith, a commitment to compassionate service, and the courage to represent her community with pride wherever she goes.
Psalm 111:10: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
- Valedictorian, Malem Elementary School, Class of 1995
- Valedictorian, Kosrae High School, Class of 1999
- Bachelor of Science in Pre-Law, Chaminade University
- Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration, Chaminade University
- Juris Doctor, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, San Diego, CA
- Graduate, Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP)
- Graduate, Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS)
- FSM Government Relations & Partnership Manager, The Nature Conservancy (Micronesia & Polynesia)
- Program Manager, Community Equity, City & County of Honolulu, Hawai’i
- Anti-Corruption Legal Specialist, FSM Department of Justice
- Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Pacific Affairs, FSM Department of Foreign Affairs
- Board Member, Hawai’i State Board of Education
- Board of Directors, The Legal Clinic, Hawai’i
- Commissioner, 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
- President, Kosrae Honolulu Women’s Association
- President, Asia Pacific American Law Student Association
- Board Member, National Asian Pacific Islander Prosecutors Association
- White House Representative, AANHPI Initiative (Pacific Islander Communities)
- To San Diego, speaking on the devastating realities of climate change and what it has taken from our islands and people.
- In Honolulu, fighting for equity for our Micronesian families and ensuring our children have access to essential resources.
- At the White House, highlighting how Pacific Islander unity and cultural strength drove Hawaii’s COVID-19 response and recovery.
- With The Nature Conservancy, protecting our natural resources while creating sustainable livelihood for our people.
Six promises to Kosrae.
My vision is a Kosrae sustained by our natural abundance — embraced, protected, and preserved for all who call this island home; where every family’s needs are met with deep care, and where every child receives the help they need so they can realize their potential and know they can achieve it. By putting our people first and ensuring every voice is valued, we will build a government of service, dignity, and lasting hope for generations.
Every child deserves the light they need to study, every family deserves safe roads and accessible public transit, and every citizen deserves to take pride in our government spaces. Through focused investments and regular upkeep, we will build infrastructure that serves you reliably every day:
- Consistent Energy Access & Power Grid Stability: Improve power grid efficiency and system sustainability to minimize outages, while expanding solar adoption to support household energy independence.
- Safe Roads & Scheduled Maintenance: Prioritize regular road improvement, resurfacing, and drainage maintenance programs to ensure safer transit, prevent flooding, and reduce vehicle repair costs for families.
- Kosrae’s First Public Transportation System: Launch an affordable, dependable public bus transit system to ensure students, workers, and elders have reliable mobility across our island.
- Revitalized & Dignified Government Facilities: Clean, restore, and remodel all state and municipal government buildings, ensuring public offices are welcoming, fully functional, accessible, and presentable to our citizens and visiting guests.
Every Kosraean deserves access to reliable, compassionate care right here at home. Our administration will focus on strengthening our healthcare system by providing practical support, modern tools, and essential resources to empower our healthcare workers and improve patient outcomes by:
- Supporting Facilities & Essential Care: Equipping our hospital and municipal dispensaries with functional diagnostic tools, reliable lab supplies, and modern technology so families can receive trusted care locally, and expanding specialized care for chronic conditions such as CKD, diabetes, and heart conditions.
- Empowering Our Healthcare Workforce: Investing in specialized training and continuous skill development for our dedicated doctors, nurses, and health assistants, while welcoming visiting specialists to work alongside our local team.
- Expanding Village Health & Preventative Outreach: Bringing healthcare closer to our homes through regular mobile clinics, health screenings, and community education programs that help families detect and manage health conditions early.
Our land, ocean, and rich traditions are the foundation of Kosrae’s future. We will promote healthy living and build sustainable livelihoods through:
- Restoring Nutritious School Meals: Investing in a community-led school lunch program using fresh, local produce and fish to nourish every student.
- Reestablish Co-op: Support farmers and fishers to rebuild sustainable cooperatives for a secure, affordable, and healthy local food network.
- Investing in Cultural Craftsmanship: Empower local artisans and preserve ancestral skills through structured economic opportunities.
- Restorative Eco-Tourism: Showcase Kosrae’s natural peace, pristine beaches, and unique heritage as a welcoming destination hub.
- Strengthening Small Business Partnerships: Improve collaboration with private sector partners — leveraging their expertise, guidance, and support to overcome barriers such as financing, market access, infrastructure, and training.
A strong Kosrae is one that leaves no one behind. Our administration will build an inclusive infrastructure specifically designed to support our youth, the elderly, individuals with disabilities & special needs, and civil society, by focusing on:
- Inclusive Community Facility: Build dedicated centers that provide spaces for training, recreation, health services, and accessible infrastructure.
- Supportive Policies: Establish youth, elderly, and disability policies that guarantee education, healthcare, accessibility standards, and inclusive participation, backed by dedicated funding.
- Strengthen Civil Society: Empower civil society groups with the support, resources, and partnerships they need to uplift communities and amplify the voices of our people.
Our island is confronting urgent climate challenges — from coastal erosion and inland river flooding to the severe dry spells brought by El Niño. We must act today to safeguard our families, secure our infrastructure, and plan practical solutions for our future. Together, we will:
- Safeguard Our Shorelines & Inland Areas: Protect homes, roads, and public spaces by reinforcing coastal defenses against sea level rise and improving drainage systems.
- Support existing El Niño Preparation: Build drought resilience by protecting municipal water sources, securing emergency water storage, and supporting farmers through dry seasons.
- Equip Emergency Responders: Upgrade disaster management tools, strengthen municipal emergency response plans, and ensure every village has the resources needed for fast recovery.
- Continue long-term climate adaptation planning: Initiate honest conversations on what Kosrae’s future looks like and further current plans on shoreline resilience and coastal adaptation.
Transparency and integrity are the cornerstones of effective leadership. Our administration is committed to building a government that is open, accountable, and actively responsive to the needs of the people of Kosrae by creating:
- Public Dashboard Access: A financial dashboard displayed at the Governor’s Office lounge and on the official website, showing revenues and expenditures by department.
- Accountability & Sustainability: Annual reviews, independent audits, public reporting, and a centralized data system tracking government projects, spending, and outcomes.
- Effective Governance: Strengthen institutions, enforce the rule of law, streamline processes, and ensure citizen participation in public dialogues.
- Create an online platform for citizens to share feedback and grievances (in Kosraean and English) and ensure timely response.
Speaking with communities.
Listening to your voice.
Every insight gathered will directly shape the policies of her administration.
She will also open a channel for diaspora communications, whether by phone and/or email.
Join the Tour
Find out how you can join the discussions in your community, on-island or in the diaspora.
Find a Discussion Near YouHelp Us Reach Our Goal
We’re raising $20,000 to fund the Listening Tour — carrying Shanty to every village across Kosrae to sit down and hear directly from the people she hopes to serve, before a single policy is written.
With your support, we can reach elders and youth, fishers and farmers, church leaders and small business owners in every municipality — and carry their voices forward into the plan for Kosrae’s future.
Please give if you can. Every contribution moves this journey forward. Kulo for your support.
A strategic plan for 2026–2030.
At the heart of this four-year roadmap is a clear truth: our administration cannot do this work alone. Delivering real, lasting progress for Kosrae requires active collaboration with local municipal leaders, traditional elders, civil society, our FSM and state Governments, and regional and global partners including UN agencies, international donors, and development funds.
We set our targets high because your daily struggles and livelihoods cannot wait. Every day without reliable power, safe roads, clean water, or economic opportunity directly impacts our families — so our administration must move with urgency.
We present this roadmap as a living document. As our Listening Tours continue across every village and community, we will adapt and refine these plans based on what our people tell us — using every local resource wisely, and engaging international and regional partners where local resources fall short.
2027
- Strategic & Policy Alignment: Align all administration goals, cabinet SMART targets, and departmental workplans with the Kosrae State Strategic Development Plan, the FSM Strategic Development Plan, and relevant UN SDGs.
- Accelerate El Niño & Water Security Actions: Assess municipal catchments, secure backup emergency water storage, and coordinate immediate agricultural support for local growers.
- Review Carry-Over Projects: Assess inherited capital and development projects to establish SMART targets and ensure uninterrupted funding.
- Recruit Balanced & Expert Leadership: Nominate experienced cabinet members and directors, bridging local talent with Kosraeans in the diaspora.
- Assess Institutional Capacity: Complete civil service desk audits to identify operational gaps and deploy targeted employee training.
- Re-establish the School Lunch Program: Pilot a community-led, rotational school meal model sourcing fresh, local produce and fish.
- Initiate Public Transit & Infrastructure Restoration: Launch a public transit pilot with two buses while partnering with KUA and DPW on targeted road repairs.
- Map Services for Vulnerable Groups: Assess needs of elders, individuals with disabilities, and children with special needs to guide future facility accessibility.
2028
- Advance Renewable Energy Integration: Support solar adoption to reduce fuel dependence and improve grid reliability.
- Maintain & Improve Secondary Infrastructure: Scheduled maintenance to repair primary transit corridors and build drainage systems.
- Institutionalize Financial Transparency: Use state financial reporting systems and public dashboards alongside regular independent audits.
- Strengthen Primary Healthcare Services: Enhance municipal dispensaries with preventative screening tools and specialized training.
- Expand Regional & Compact Partnerships: Work with FSM national counterparts and international partners to secure capital grant assistance.
2029
- Support Local Food Systems & Small Business: Promote local agriculture, nearshore fisheries, and value-added food processing.
- Promote Sustainable Eco-Tourism & Artisans: Partner with local historians and cultural custodians to restore heritage sites.
- Expand Youth & Technical Training: Collaborate with COM-FSM and local employers on trade apprenticeships and vocational programs.
- Engage Civil Society in Governance: Formalize consultation frameworks with non-profits, churches, women’s councils, and youth leaders.
2030
- Advance Climate Adaptation Projects: Progress shoreline defense in vulnerable zones and upgrade drainage against inland flooding.
- Facilitate Community & Regional Dialogues: Lead transparent conversations regarding long-term climate adaptation support.
- Complete Capital Infrastructure Upgrades: Finalize major state facility repairs and healthcare venue completions.
- Sustain Responsible Leadership: Maintain centralized data tracking and regular public progress reports.
Contact Us.
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