Family divisions seen in ‘05 polls

Having a big family in the CNMI is a major deciding factor in elections, but what if the big families are divided, as what may be the case in this year’s general elections?

The Tenorios and Pangelinans, for instance, could no longer deliver a solid vote as they have relatives in all of four political groups that would be fielding gubernatorial candidates: Lt. Gov. Diego Tenorio Benavente for the NMI Republican Party; Vice Speaker Timothy Pangelinan Villagomez for the Covenant Party, Rep. Heinz Sablan Hofschneider, who is running as independent, and former Gov. Froilan Cruz Tenorio for the Democratic Party.

“The Tenorios are divided. All families are going to be split in this election,” commented former congressman Karl T. Reyes yesterday.

He noted that the cousins of Juan P. Tenorio and Juan S. Tenorio would not be supporting their cousin, Froilan, because they are behind the gubernatorial candidacy of Heinz S. Hofschneider.

“And how about their nephew Diego?” asked Reyes, a member of the NMI Republican Party.

The lieutenant governor’s deceased mother is the oldest sister of Juan P. Tenorio and former Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio.

Covenant Party’s Timothy Villagomez, meantime, is another nephew.

For his part, Democratic Party’s Froilan Camacho Tenorio accepts the fact that his cousin Juan Sablan Tenorio would be supporting his maternal cousin, Heinz Sablan Hofschneider.

“He decided this time to support a candidate from his mother side,” he said.

Hofschneider’s partner is a Tenorio as well, a cousin of Juan P. Tenorio.

“Tenorio is not really that big a family,” dismissed Froilan.

In the past, Froilan had fought with his cousin, former Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio, who had served the post three times. Froilan has only served one term.

For his part, Juan “Morgen” P. Tenorio, a former senator, declined to comment on political divisions within the family, indicating that it is no longer a new thing.

Several other families would go separate ways come Election Day. Among them are the Camachos, Sablans, and Guerreros.

Aside from family relations, candidates would also compete for “cultural votes.”

Both the Republican Party and Covenant Party are expecting to win the Chamorro and Carolinian votes.

Republican Gov. Juan Nekai Babauta and Covenant Party gubernatorial candidate Benigno Repeki Fitial pride themselves on their Carolinian heritage while their running mates are of pure Chamorro descent.