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GOP: We have more candidates than slots
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Posted on Feb 10 2005
Despite some defections from the party, the ruling Republican Party claims strong following, citing that it has, in fact, more candidates than the available elective slots.
GOP executive director Felipe Atalig said in a recent interview that, for the Senate race alone, only two seats are available but there are at least four individuals who have expressed interest to run under the party.
For the Saipan mayoralty, three have expressed their intention to seek the party’s endorsement.
Atalig declined to identify the names of the political aspirants, saying that the party has yet to meet to finalize its slate.
Meantime, he said that for Precinct 1, all the six elective slots for the House of Representatives have been filled out but there are two more who want to vie for the slots. For Precinct 2, however, there are two slots but only one has confirmed intention to run. Precinct 3, which has six slots, is currently filled out. Precinct 4 has two slots but there are four aspirants.
Among the expected re-election congressmen from Precinct 3 are minority leader Arnold I. Palacios and Ray Tebuteb.
Rep. Jesus Attao, who was believed to be not running again this year, remains counted on the GOP list.
Attao has recently aligned himself with the camp of Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider, who wants to run as an independent candidate for the gubernatorial race with Rep. David Apatang.
This developed after the GOP decided to endorse the re-election bid of Gov. Juan N. Babauta and Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente and denied the request of the Heinz-David camp for a primary. The GOP has cited, among others, that Apatang is currently not a member of the party.
Meantime, unconfirmed reports said that for the Rota mayoralty race, long-serving Mayor Benjamin Manglona would bow out, allowing a fellow GOP member, Ben Atalig, to run for the post.
On Tinian, Senate President Joaquin Adriano is rumored to be seeking the mayoralty post.
