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‘Yumul re-election bid pursuant to military policy’
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Posted on Aug 04 2005
Rep. Ray Anthony N. Yumul’s decision to run as an independent candidate for the House of Representatives was made according to military policy, his wife clarified yesterday.
Marites Acosta Yumul, who chairs the committee to re-elect Yumul, said the CNMI’s youngest lawmaker was pursuing another term as an independent candidate in consideration of the U.S. Army’s policy that prohibits soldiers in active duty from associating themselves with any political party.
“Congressman Yumul’s application for re-election to the Commonwealth Election Commission did not violate any local and federal laws nor any military policies and regulations,” Acosta-Yumul maintained.
Yumul, who is currently serving in Iraq, had the permission of the Army to run for re-election as Precinct 3 representative, the wife said. The Election Commission, she added, had been furnished a copy of Yumul’s written approval from his commanding general in the service.
“Congressman Yumul’s decision to seek re-election was made largely to the fact that there is still serious work to be done for the CNMI and the community,” Acosta-Yumul said. “I ask that we continue to pray for the safe return of Congressman Yumul and the other troops serving in Iraq.”
A member of the U.S. Army Reserve Corps since February 2001, Yumul was called to active duty in August last year in response to calls by Pentagon for U.S. Army Reserve forces to reinforce depleted missions in the Middle East.
