Borja gears up for 2001 polls; slams Republicans

In what appeared to be the start of his political campaign, former Lt. Gov. Jesus C. Borja slammed the Republican Party for its failure to revive the economy, improve the quality of education and ease strains in CNMI-Federal relations.

During Saturday’s fundraising event of the Democratic Party, Mr. Borja asked the people to begin asking what the present administration has achieved in all these three areas.

“What is their plan to solve the economy? None. In improving relations with the federal government, what did they do? None. In education, what have they done? They may have done something but perhaps, they have taken us backward rather than forward,” he said. In evaluating the achievements of the Tenorio administration, he also urged the people to ask the same questions around.

While Mr. Borja did not officially announced his plans to run for governor in next year’s general election, he has reportedly indicated his intention to his close friends and relatives.

Confident that the Democratic Party will get majority of the seats in the Legislature in the 2001 polls, Mr. Borja appealed to the people to support the party to ensure its victory.

Guam Gov. Carl Gutierrez endorsed the candidacy of Mr. Borja, saying his experience as former Justice of the Supreme Court makes him more than qualified to assume the post. “God willing, you will become the governor of the Northern Marianas one of these days. I hope that you follow the philosophy of the Democratic Party of taking care of our people. You know exactly what needs to be done to take care of the most vulnerable of our people. You understand very well the people of the Northern Marianas,” he said.

After all, the Democratic Party of the Northern Marianas was created to take care of the majority of the people who are most vulnerable, said Mr. Gutierrez, who arrived over the weekend with his wife Geri.

Mr. Gutierrez said he considers Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio a dear friend even if the chief executive is a Republican. “He knows that politics is temporary but the relationship he and I have on a personal level is forever,” he said.

He noted the importance of maintaining cultural traditions of respect, sharing and lending a helping hand which have made the islands special for Chamorros and Carolinians. He added that people should watch out for these external forces that will continuously attempt at changing these traits of the indigenous people.

Mr. Borja attempted but lost in his bid to seek the highest elective post in the Northern Marianas in 1997, when he ran as an independent candidate. The former lieutenant governor and ex-Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio both lost to incumbent Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio, a Republican.

With 20 months into election time, at least three officials have either declared or expressed their intentions to become the next local chief executive namely Lt. Gov. Jesus R. Sablan, CNMI’s Resident Representative to Washington Juan N. Babauta, and former Gov. Tenorio.