12 candidates vying for 8 seats in CNMI Youth Congress election

Marianas High School vice principal Romolor Orsini, left, and CNMI Youth Congress coordinator Luis John Castro hold a ballot box after the election at MHS yesterday afternoon for the 19th CNMI Youth Congress. MHS has four candidates for a single seat. There are 12 candidates, from both private and public highs schools, vying for eight seats. (FERDIE DE LA TORRE)

Eight public and private high schools, with the supervision and assistance of Legislative Bureau staffers, held the biennial election yesterday for the 19th CNMI Youth Congress, with 12 candidates battling for vacant seats in eight different high schools.

Youth Congress secretary/coordinator Luis John Castro said in an interview yesterday that this year’s election is significant as it’s been 25 years since the very first CNMI Youth Congress was convened.

“This is a milestone,” Castro said.

Six candidates who are running unopposed are already sure winners. They are Ayden Sean Yumul of the Grace Christian Academy, Maili I. B. Peter of Mt. Carmel School, Aden Chonne Hocog Calvo of Rita H. Inos Junior-Senior High School, Filomenaleonisa T. Iakopo of Saipan International School, Myckiel Josh B. Cabrera of Saipan Southern High School, and incumbent Youth senator Ysabella V. Palacios of Tinian Junior-Senior High School.

At Kagman High School, Jaidiann Justis Cabrera and Vinnie Juan Quitugua Sablan are vying for a single seat.

Marianas High School has four candidates vying for a single seat. They are Peaches Fiona Bayot, Sara Elizabeth Castro Keaton, James Gavriel Matias Mercader, and Jia Ross Bao Nicdao.

When Saipan Tribune left Marianas High School yesterday afternoon, MHS officials led by vice principal Romolo Orsini and Legislative Bureau staffers were still counting the votes.

Castro, who visited MHS and other polling sites, said the winners are expected to be known today, Tuesday.

Each youth senator will serve a term of two years.

Castro said over 1,500 students Commonwealth-wide are eligible to vote.

Castro said the senators elected to the upcoming 19th Youth Congress will compose one of the largest bodies of the Youth Congress since the passage of Public Law 17-2, the law that lowered the number of members from the precinct and school representatives to school representatives only.

Schools officials, with the supervision and assistance of Legislative Bureau staffers, tabulated the votes at the end of the voting period yesterday.

After the counting of votes, results will be certified by the floor leader of the House of Representatives within three days after the election.

Those considered eligible to vote in the Youth Congress are high school students between the ages of 14 to 18, must be a U.S. citizen, and a student of the school they wish to vote in.

Eligible to run are high school students between the ages of 14-17 years, U.S. citizens, and a student of the school they wish to vote in.

YuriHana Deleon Guerrero Sasamoto of Mount Carmel School is the current speaker of the 18th Youth Congress, while Abriette Patience Taimanao Manglona of Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr.-Sr. High School is the vice speaker. Zenn Ichiro Enriquez Tomokane of Marianas High School is the floor leader. Ysabella Nikonia Rita Villagomez Palacios of Tinian Junior-Senior High School is the legislative secretary, and Tamisha Lia Debrum Sablan of Kagman High School is a member and chairperson of the Committee on Health and Welfare.

Tomokane, Palacios, and Sablan filled the seats last September after former Youth senator Easton Dela Cruz, former vice speaker Liekeila’akata Iakopo, and former speaker Cielo G. Long left the CNMI for educational and career opportunities.

According to the mission of the Youth Congress, its elected officials are youth representatives in the community whose goal is not only to learn about making policy or being involved in electoral, legislative, and governmental processes, but to go one step further by working to plan, develop, and implement programs that promote real youth progress.