Delegate candidates quizzed about closing businesses

First of a series

A businessman quizzed the five candidates running for the CNMI delegate seat in the U.S. House of Representatives last Wednesday night during the Marianas Business Network town hall forum at Tom Yum Restaurant & Karaoke Bar in San Antonio.

Last Shot Bar owner Travis Jones expressed concerns about the challenges currently faced by the CNMI as he emphasized the need for urgent action to support businesses and prevent closures.

“I want everybody to hear it coming from me, not coming from a moderator asking my question. I’m watching businesses fail. I know it takes time to get tourism [going], I know it takes time to get grants, but I’m watching these businesses close. I’m watching friends close their business. So, I’m asking not what do we do in the next six months, I am asking what do we do to keep these businesses open for the next six weeks?”

Each candidate was given two minutes to respond and Liana Hofschneider, an independent candidate, said the CNMI economy can improve by bringing back Japanese tourists via education and cultural exchange programs as well as getting small community technical grants specifically the Tuition Assistance program grant.

Another independent candidate, John Oliver Gonzales, said he wants to push the CNMI local government to ramp up infrastructure spending to jumpstart the economy and add multiplier effects as well as bolster consumer and business confidence with incentives. He also wants the Commonwealth to emulate what works in Guam and Tinian.

Edwin K. Propst, who is running under the Democratic Party of the NMI, mentioned the $3.6 billion allocated for the missile defense of Guam and the Tinian divert airfield. He also wants to serve in the U.S. House Armed Services Committee to ensure a fair share of U.S. Department of Defense monies and make sure the CNMI has the same protections as Guam against foreign threats.

Jim Rayphand, another independent candidate, said issues dovetail into other issues like the economy, military, and education. He said everyone should keep in mind what authority the delegate has in crafting policy and infusing funding, adding that if he becomes the CNMI delegate to U.S. Congress he will try and ensure the CNMI is included in funding streams and that he will develop new industries via policy.

CNMI Republican Party bet Kimberlyn King-Hinds, meanwhile, said the local economy was strongest when the tourism industry was paired with garment industry and later when the tourism industry was paired with the casino industry.

She said, generally, the CNMI economic situation is self-inflicted. She said the government chose to ignore a tourism market due to geopolitical tensions. She called for the restoration of Annex 6 (unlimited flights from China) and said the CNMI cannot look at the military as an industry because the CNMI does not have the same population as Guam as well as the U.S. territory’s military bases.