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OPA tweaks GOP for ‘misleading’ ad
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Posted on Oct 13 2005
Public auditor Michael S. Sablan protested yesterday a Republican Party advertisement that included photographs of himself and OPA staff members.
Sablan said in a letter to GOP chair Juan S. Reyes that the political advertisement was misleading because it seemed to suggest that he is supporting the party.
He also expressed intent to file a complaint with the Commonwealth Election Commission and the Attorney General’s Office if GOP runs a similar advertisement.
The advertisement paid for by the Republican Party appeared on page 5 of the Oct. 13, 2005 issue of this newspaper.
In the advertisement, there were two pictures of OPA staff, one that included Sablan and one that included OPA employees Kimberly Mendiola and Rosauro Zapanta.
The photographs were taken at the annual government-wide CNMI Labor Day picnic held on Sept. 17, 2005 at American Memorial Park. Mendiola and Zapanta were recognized at the event as recipients of the departmental Employee of the Year awards.
“The Labor Day event was not sponsored by the Republican Party nor was presence there any indication of support for the Republican Party or any other political party, candidate, or issue. The advertisement is, therefore, misleading,” Sablan told Reyes.
The public auditor pointed out that it was part of OPA’s responsibilities to monitor campaign finance reporting. OPA staff members also serve as independent poll observers on the day of the election.
“It is imperative that my staff, I and the office we serve maintain a neutral political stance publicly. Employees, obviously, may vote for whomever they choose, but my staff and I do not participate in partisan activities. In fact, the Auditing Act specifically prohibits such,” Sablan said.
He demanded the GOP to apologize to him, the OPA staff and the readers of Saipan Tribune. He also asked the Republicans to publish an immediate retraction, stating that the photographs were taken at the Labor Day picnic and in no way reflect support for the GOP slate.
