Gonzales, Lizama file papers for delegate bid

Television talk show host John Oliver Gonzales and retired Judge Juan T. Lizama are the first two candidates to make official their bid for U.S. congressional delegate.

The Commonwealth Election Commission yesterday started accepting candidacy papers and nominations for the Northern Marianas’ first federal election.

Gonzales, together with his chief campaign manager, retired Judge Edward Manibusan, came in at 1:30pm. Former Sen. Ramon “Kumoi” Guerrero filed on behalf of Lizama at 4pm. Lizama is off island and will not be back until July 16, 2008.

Ten other individuals have picked up nomination packets from the Election Commission. They are on-leave Election Commission executive director Gregorio Sablan, Resident Rep. Pete A. Tenorio, Sen. Luis Crisostimo Rep. Ray N. Yumul, former Sen. David Cing, David Attao, Bruce Bateman, Patrick Calvo, Paul William Camacho, and Chong Won.

Of these potential candidates, only Yumul has come out publicly about withdrawing from the race.

Gonzales submitted about 600 voter signatures with his candidacy petition. Lizama’s candidacy documents came with nearly 1,000 signatures.

The nomination requirements that previously applied to candidates for Washington representative are now being applied to the congressional hopefuls. Nominating petitions must include signatures of at least 200 registered voters and a filing fee of $500. These requirements apply for both political party and independent nominations.

Asked about the Gonzales camp’s decision to file early, Manibusan said, “We are ready. John has been prepared to run from the first day the law was signed. We are prepared for the campaign and what lies ahead in Washington, D.C.”

Manibusan said he chose Gonzales because the 37-year-old candidate “is enthusiastic and brilliant, and he is not part of the old establishment.” He also touted as a huge advantage Gonzales’ family background, which Manibusan said mirrors the diversity of the people in the Commonwealth. Gonzales is the son of a Filipino immigrant father and a Chamorro mother, and is married to a woman of Japanese descent.

For his part, Guerrero said Lizama is the most qualified of the congressional candidates. “He was a judge. He interpreted the law, the Constitution, and the Covenant. That is the kind of person we need to represent us in Congress,” he said.

The deadline for submitting nominating petitions is Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008.