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‘GOP did a very serious mistake’
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Posted on Feb 04 2005
Senate minority leader Pete P. Reyes warned yesterday that the NMI Republican Party’s decision not to hold a primary would severely hurt the party, especially the re-election bid of Gov. Juan N. Babauta and Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente.
“I think the denial of a primary is a very serious mistake. I predict that there’s going to be a severe negative consequence for the incumbent governor. Too bad for him that this decision came out because it’s not a plus for him,” said Reyes, a GOP member.
Reyes, who has been critical of the Babauta leadership, recalled that even Babauta himself had enjoyed opportunities to join primaries in the past.
“He had expressed his desire to run for governor several times before. …He was allowed to challenge incumbent Lt. Gov. Jesus Sablan,” recalled Reyes.
The conduct of a primary—which he said was decided by the GOP general membership—is what distinguished the party in the CNMI.
“The party under [Babauta] seems to have departed from the fair play, fairness, and freedom for the general membership to express their desire on who their candidate should be,” said Reyes.
He took note that the decision was decided only by a few people: the officers of the GOP ‘central’ committee.
Like other critics, Reyes said that the GOP has never had a so-called central committee. “There was never any central committee in the Republican Party. This is the first time I heard of it. I know that Democrats have it.”
The senator said he considers the present time “as the most difficult time” for the local GOP party.
The veteran senator said he has yet to make known his political plans, adding that he may or may not seek re-election.
“I know for sure that the governor would not want to have me in his ticket. Things have changed,” he said.
Reyes said, though, that “I’ll remain a Republican.”
