Pete A. declares candidacy

Resident Rep. Pete A. Tenorio has formally announced his candidacy for CNMI delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Tenorio, who has represented the CNMI in Washington, D.C. for over six years, is the first to declare his bid for the new position.

“It is my honor to inform you as chairman, and to officials and members of our great Republican Party of our Commonwealth, that I will be a candidate for that most important elected office for our Commonwealth,” Tenorio said in a letter to Tom B. Pangelinan, chairman of the NMI Republican Party.

Tenorio asked for the party’s endorsement, and vowed to “defer and abide by our party’s best judgment.”

Tenorio had previously expressed his interest in running for delegate, which he said would be “a very challenging job, and … consistent with the work I have done since my time as a negotiator of the Covenant.”

Ana Teregeyo, vice president of the local Republican Party, said the party is still in the process of drafting rules for selecting a candidate for delegate. “In fact, the board of directors is now meeting to discuss the prerequisites for candidates and the timeline for the selection process. We have not come to Pete A.’s letter yet,” she said.

The Fitial administration, which has been at odds with Tenorio over recent federal policy changes on labor and immigration in the CNMI, said Tenorio is facing “an uphill battle.” Press secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said Tenorio had alienated many voters by supporting immigration federalization.

“Pete A.’s candidacy would be a referendum on federalization. If he wins decisively, I think we can safely say that our people support federalization. We look forward to that judgment,” said Reyes.

Other candidates reported to be interested in running for delegate include Finance Secretary Eloy Inos, Associate Judge Juan Lizama, Election Commission executive director Gregorio Sablan, and former attorney general and now attorney in private practice Robert Torres.

The election for the delegate position will take place on Nov. 4, 2008. But the electoral process begins in less than two months. The Election Commission will accept nominating petitions and candidacy documents from July 7 to Aug. 6.

Under the recently enacted delegate law, Northern Marianas will have a representative with limited voting powers to the U.S. House of Representatives. Similar to House members and other delegates, the CNMI delegate will be elected to Congress every two years. He can serve on committees, as well as vote on legislation at the committee level. But floor voting will not be permitted.