Previous Story
Manglona: I’m Republican but I am not supporting its ’05 candidates
|
Posted on Sep 24 2005
Veteran politician Rota Mayor Benjamin Manglona said Friday that he still considers himself a Republican but he admits that he is not supporting Republican candidates in this year’s elections.
Early on, Manglona expressed his support for Rota independent mayoral candidate Victor B. Hocog, instead of Republican mayoral candidate Vicente M. Atalig.
Recently, he attended a Covenant Party pocket meeting on Saipan, expressing his full support to the party’s standard-bearer, Benigno R. Fitial and Timothy P. Villagomez.
In an interview Friday, Manglona said he chose not to endorse the Republican Party’s Babauta-Benavente tandem because the governor no longer consult him on issues relating to Rota.
In particular, Manglona said that the governor allegedly failed to consult him on appointments to boards and commissions.
“I expected the governor to make consultations with me as Rota mayor. I need to be given the courtesy on appointments,” he said.
He indicated that the governor would only listen to other members of the delegation such as the elected senators.
“After I get them elected to office, they don’t know me anymore. I deserve better treatment,” Manglona said.
Further, he said that the Governor’s Office did not approve his request to fill in vacancies in the municipal office, citing a lack of funds.
He said his choice of Fitial-Villagomez is “a personal decision.”
“I support the candidates who can do better for the CNMI and Rota,” he said.
Last week, Senate majority leader Paul Manglona accused the mayor of political harassment when the latter decided not to renew the employment contracts of seven employees, who are believed to be supporters of GOP.
Manglona denied this, saying that he had to terminate them for lack of funding and “poor performance.”
