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GOP sets deadline for 2001 election hopefuls
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Posted on May 31 2000
Republican members who have intention to seek elective posts in the November 2001 general elections have until June 30, 2000 to submit their letter of intent to the party’s central committee, according to GOP Chair Joseph Reyes.
He said those who have handed in their letter before the deadline will be given acknowledgment receipt from the committee to ensure order.
So far, two potential Republican candidates in the gubernatorial race have announced their intention to seek the party’s endorsement.
They are Lt. Gov. Jesus R. Sablan and running mate Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez as well as the team of Representative to Washington Juan N. Babauta and Rep. Diego T. Benavente.
The two camps are expected to fight it out in the primary which the Republican leaders will schedule sometime late this year or early 2001.
For the senatorial slate, only Rep. David M. Apatang of Saipan has submitted his letter of intent. There are six slots — two each from Saipan, Tinian and Rota — up for grabs in next year’s polls.
For Saipan mayor, former Rep. Frank G. Cepeda and Henry I. Sablan have both sought the GOP’s nomination.
Aside from those posts, all the 18 seats of the House of Representatives will be chosen by voters. Non-partisan positions are also up, including for the Board of Education and the municipal councils.
The two other political parties in the CNMI, the Democrats and the Reform Party, are also gearing up for the 2001 polls as they are expected to field former Lt. Gov. Jesus C. Borja and former Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio as their standard bearer, respectively.
