Gonzales optimistic, grateful with his run for delegate

LAS VEGAS, Nevada—John Oliver “Bolis” Gonzales is positive and grateful with his campaign as he seeks the CNMI delegate seat in U.S Congress this Nov. 5 general elections.

Gonzales, who is running as an independent, said over the weekend that many people are actually reaching out a lot more this second time than he’s running versus the first time that he ran for delegate in 2008.

“I’m just gracious, positive, and grateful,” he said in an interview during the opening of the 19th Annual CNMI Labor Day Softball Tournament held at the Sunset Park in Las Vegas.

Gonzales said he feels so good as the people are so responsive and just so nice and outreaching because they believe in his candidacy.

“I’m really reaching out, reinforcing with the plans that I have to help the people,” he said.

Before coming to Las Vegas last week to “reconnect” with the people from Marianas who are staying in the states and watch the three-day Labor Day softball tournament, Gonzales was in California where his son, a newly sworn in officer of the U.S. Coast Guard, is stationed in Alameda.

Gonzales said when he goes back to Saipan this week, he will be doing some outreach as well as online campaign.

Gonzales said he believes there are 6,000 to 7,000 people from Marianas that are residing in the states.

He believes majority of them are children and about 2,000 to 3,000 have yet to register to vote in the coming CNMI elections.

Gonzales said many people from the Marianas who are staying in the U.S. mainland, move from state to state.

He said for example, many were in California but then moved to Las Vegas as it was developing.

Gonzales said now it’s congested in Las Vegas so maybe people are moving to elsewhere because of the cost of homes and higher cost of living.

“And now I know for a fact that many, many are moving from the West Coast, leaving you know, to Texas,” he said.

Gonzales said the cost of a house in Texas is half less than in California, or half than the West Coast.

In formally announcing his candidacy last March, Gonzales said he will be building upon the successes and strategic network of Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (D-MP) and leveraging the Covenant “in order to lobby for critical leadership support aimed at customizing legislation and U.S. federal policies and to carve out specific exemptions necessary to meet the CNMI’s extenuating geographical, economic, and social circumstances.

The Covenant is the document that created the relationship between the CNMI and the United States.

Aside from Gonzales, the other four delegate candidates are James Rayphand, Liana Hofschneider, Kimberlyn King-Hinds, and House majority leader Rep. Edwin K. Propst (D-Saipan).