Diego backs out of gubernatorial race

Rep. Diego Benavente formally backed out from the November gubernatorial race, saying the opportunity he was looking for “is not present at this time.”

Benavente, who was the first to announce his bid under the Republican ticket, will withdraw his application with party officials this week.

“I decided, after speaking with my family and friends, that I will be stepping down and withdraw my name. I will be sending the party president and officials a letter withdrawing my name as a candidate for governor,” he told Saipan Tribune yesterday.

Benavente said: “This is not a good time for me to run because the opportunity that I was looking forward to for the past four years is not there.”

The lawmaker, however, is optimistic that a “better time” will come in the future.

“I will have to wait for another opportunity in the future and I am hoping for that better situation someday,” he said.

Citing the lack of support he needed in the gubernatorial race, he admitted he was a bit disappointed.

“But I need to be realistic…because it takes a lot to run for the Office of the Governor. I don’t want to bring my family and [supporters] to a race that we cannot win,” he said.

Benavente, however, said that he has yet to make a decision if he will seek re-election at the House of Representatives.

“Although I admit that people are encouraging me to run…I haven’t made a firm decision at this time,” he said.

The lawmaker also admitted that the “economic hard times” contributed to his decision to back out.

“A lot of my family [cannot commit], not because they don’t want to help…but they are preoccupied with their own challenges….I know a lot of them have been pushing me to run for office…and I can only apologize to them because that opportunity may come in the future,” Benavente said, adding he completely understands the difficulties faced by every CNMI citizen.

Benavente served as lieutenant governor under former governor Juan N. Babauta and ran with him again under the Republican ticket in 2005. Babauta picked Board of Education member Galvin Deleon Guerrero as his running mate in this year’s elections.

Asked if he will support Babauta’s ticket, Benavente declined to comment.

“I’ve been in the political arena for over 20 years now…and I can only say that I’ve been a loyal and staunch supporter of the Republican Party. I intend to continue to be loyal and whoever it endorses as candidates I will give my support,” he said.

Republican Party chair Ed Tenorio is currently on official trip to Washington, D.C. with some education officials. He is expected to be back this weekend.

It was earlier disclosed that the party will hold its primary in June between Heinz Hofschneider and Babauta, who also both declared their candidacies under the Republican banner.