Gonzales first to file candidacy in NMI delegate race

John “Bolis” Gonzales, one of four who have announced their bid in the race for NMI delegate this coming general elections, has officially filed his candidacy with the Commonwealth Election Commission, making him the first delegate candidate to file his petition.

Yesterday morning, Gonzales, accompanied by dozens of his supporters and members of his campaign committee, appeared at the CEC office in Susupe to officially file his candidacy petition.

“I am humbly thrilled to be the first candidate to file as an Independent who is beholden to no special interests other than our people’s interests over politics, solutions, and actions,” he said.

In his speech, Gonzales said should he be elected NMI delegate, no more are the days of putting politics over the people.

“No more making noises, no more investigation there is a point where that must stop because our people are suffering. They’re still in tents, no water, no power, let us set a side politics and start identifying solutions and let’s unleash actions,” he said.

Gonzales also noted in his speech the qualities that make him the best fit for the position.

“Who can you trust as your most respected representative to the U.S. Congress, who possesses the most sensible character with integrity, fortitude, moral compass, strict work ethics, and principles to represent you in the U.S. Congress. Who exhibits the best leadership acumen with professional maturity spanning 30 years of work experience and performance recorded in the legislature, the executive branch, the federal government, and the non-profit sector. I’ve been helping our people with my fellow board members whether it be through NMTI, CHCC Volunteers Association, the Northern Marianas Descent Corporation, FESTPAC, and CDBGR,” he said.

“Who is best strategically poised and ready to seek effective solutions that directly meets the CNMI’s dire economic social and infrastructural needs and who will deeply require actions by competently securing values, diplomatic partnerships and support across all isles (Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike) in the U.S, Congress, the White House, and the federal government. All of which I have had the honor to work with,” he added.

Gonzales also noted his knowledge of the CNMI’s Covenant and his passion to fight for a better tomorrow for the future generations of the CNMI.

“Who possesses the most intimate knowledge of the most vital agreement between the CNMI and the U.S. government, our covenant, and our unrelenting geopolitical strategic asset and who will hit the ground running by leveraging both in order to steadfastly secure key policy and programmatic agreements through the federal government and the white house and congress on top of quantifying the undeniably high exposure to our human lives and the overall human costs being constantly at risk in the crossfire of military dominance and hyper-militarization between the U.S. and its enemies and allies to robustly compensate us now and over the next 50 years,” he said.

“We must be visionaries, we must negotiate now and negotiate with the United States in lieu of using our waters, oceans, and lands for its it military defense posture in the Indo-Pacific region. We must negotiate, we must leverage, now and up to 50 years so we can put money into the reserves, so our future generations are taken care of thus rescuing us from further irreparable economic collapse and social Armageddon,” Gonzales added.

Lastly, Gonzales said should he be elected, he will work for the common people who deserve nothing but the best.

“Who can best eloquently articulate and justify our struggles, our sufferings, and our extenuating circumstances so remote from the mainland, who experienced poverty and struggled during his childhood with social economic hardships as a son of an indigenous Chamorro mother and an immigrant Filipino construction laborer. I know what it is to suffer, I know how it is to be a victim of political vendetta despite your real-life work experience spanning 30 years, and real-world compassion and care for our common people who suffered the most pain and neglect. They deserve nothing but to unleash the power of the U.S. government in true testament to the promises it gave us when we negotiated and signed our Covenant nearly 50 years ago,” he said.

“It’s an honor for me to file my candidacy today and I look to my supporters and our children who I am working for. It will be an honor and I humbly ask for a chance to be your delegate to the U.S. Congress,” he added.

Gonzales extends his gratitude to members of his campaign committee; chair Ambrosio Ogumoro, co-vice chair Ramon S. Basa, co-vice chair Vincent S. Pangelinan, treasurer David Burger, co-secretary Gloria Rasiang, and co-secretary Virginia Reyes.

“Their leadership has been instrumental for our Independent peoples’ interest grassroots campaign,” he said.

Gonzales also special shout out to his three sons

“They are away abroad with two attending the USCG Academy and my eldest is now serving as a Coast Guard commissioned officer as an ensign,” he shared.