Former Lt. Gov. Tenorio eyes Washington rep post
Former Lt. Gov. Pete A. Tenorio is eyeing a political comeback next year as he announced his intention to seek the Republican Party’s nomination to become its candidate as the CNMI Resident Representative to the United States.
This is the second time he submitted a letter of intent to run for the position. In the 1997 general elections, he gave way to Washington Rep. Juan N. Babauta in order to preserve what he said the party’s unity.
Mr. Tenorio was Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio’s lieutenant governor during his first two terms in office in the 1980’s. He was also one of the negotiators who sat in the mid-70’s with U.S. representatives to hammer out an agreement that eventually became the Covenant establishing NMI’s political relations with Washington.
“I am now totally convinced and determined to run as a ‘Washington Rep’ for the people of the CNMI, and as a candidate of the Republican Party,” he said in a seven-page letter to GOP party leaders.
“The office of the Resident Representative to the United States is a complex and difficult responsibility. If elected, I intend to meet all possible challenges and issues, and will utilize my understanding of the Covenant and my experience in government and in private undertakings to restore confidence and integrity to our political relationship,” he added.
Mr. Tenorio is the first to formally announce his bid to win GOP’s endorsement to the Washington representative’s office. Earlier, Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider has expressed interest to run for the same position in the November 2001 polls.
Republican members who have intention to seek elective posts in the forthcoming elections have until June 30, 2000 to submit their letter of intent to the party’s central committee, according to GOP Chair for Saipan Joseph Reyes.
The deadline is applicable to the position of governor, lieutenant governor, Washington representative, mayor and senators for Saipan.
With 17 months still to go before the election day, several government and elected officials as well as prominent members of the community have already announced their candidacies.
