Lang: Gubernatorial elections should require a psycho test By MAR-VIC CAGURANGAN

Anybody who will aspire to run for governor in year 2001 should take a psychological test, former Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio said Friday.

“In two years, this government is going to be bankrupt. The government will have a deficit of probably $150 million . . . and it’s going to be hard for the next governor to take over,” said Tenorio, president of the Reform Party.

“I would say that anybody running for governor in 2001 should be examined in his head because something is wrong with that guy to be running,” the former governor said.

When asked by reporters if he considers joining the gubernatorial race, Tenorio replied, “that is a good possibility.”

He said the recent victory of Reform Party candidate Ramon S. Guerrero in Saipan senatorial race has offered a positive sign in terms of his own political chances in 2001.

Guerrero, who beat incumbent Republican Sen. Juan P. Tenorio, was the only Reform Party candidate who made in the Nov. 6 race.

“Only one? You mean the grand prize?” Tenorio quipped. “It was an islandwide decision. When a candidate won islandwide, it doesn’t really matter precinct wise.”

Tenorio said he was proud that “we beat not only an incumbent (senator), but the brother of the incumbent governor. That means a lot.”

He said results of the recent election should make the Republicans think twice about fielding a gubernatorial candidate.

“A Republican is even crazier to be running in 2001. You think the people would vote for another Republican after four years of this administration? No way,” Tenorio said.

Tenorio, a former Democrat, also said the Democratic Party has contributed to Guerrero’s winning.

But, at the same time, he said, the Reform Party should also be credited for the victory of the Democrats in precinct 1. If not for the Reform Party’s support, Tenorio said, the Democrats wouldn’t have swept out the Republicans in this precinct.

“There were only three Reform Party candidates [for precinct 1]. Our supporters voted for our own candidates plus three Democrats,” Tenorio said. “Our support was a big factor in their victory.”

Also on Friday, Tenorio announced a plan to bring an election protest to the court to challenge the eligibility of two Hawaii residents who were allowed by BOE to vote last Nov. 6.

“These two voters that I know have been residents of Hawaii for a long time, yet they are still registered here,” Tenorio said.

The CNMI law provides that a person can be eligible to vote if he or she has been a resident of the Commonwealth at least 45 days before the election day.

Tenorio said there were several others who have been long-time off-island residents, but were able to vote in the CNMI during the past elections.

Tenorio said although the two votes he is contesting would not change the results of the recent elections, he believes it would be the start of fixing the election process.

“Over time that I’ve been in politics, I was never really that concerned about the election process. But it seems that every election, the qualification of a voter is being challenged so this time I’ve decided to get involved,” he said.