Circumventing election law?

CNMI election law requires the full disclosure of all political campaign contributions. Both in-kind and monetary contribution must be reported. The law clearly states that there shall be no anonymous contributions. Are contributions in the form of property, personnel, pupu’lu and pikat’dia possible?

We read in newspapers and magazines what appear to be very partial, unabashed pro-Babauta-Benavente articles and editorials, however shallow, yellow and lacking objectivity and substance. We, the CNMI community, ought to ask ourselves if the election law when it comes to full campaign disclosure is being followed. Very obvious one-sided writing by P magazine and Pacific Times supporting the Babauta-Benavente ticket not only reflects poor judgment and bad taste but unprofessional conduct by journalists lacking ethics and respect for their profession and the people of the CNMI.

Objectivity is important and so is fairness and truth—facts. It’s a shame that a group of disconnected non-voting, nonresident editors become willing stools for BB masquerading for better government, economic prosperity and security for our children and our people. Would these disconnected non-voting, nonresident editors have us believe that they genuinely share our people’s interest, inspiration and values? How insulting!

Picture this scene: The all-disconnected non-voting, nonresident editors from P magazine, and Pacific Times standing at a street corner and soliciting votes in Kagman for our governor. What kind of public office seeker would stoop to such level and utilize or accept the services of such disconnected people as tools to root and write for him? Credibility goes hand-in-hand with dignity.

Can the CNMI community be convinced that these disconnected non-voting nonresident editors give a damn about our social, economic and political future of our children and people as a whole? I am sure that many voters in the CNMI do not welcome such a tasteless approach. How sticky and problematic!

The voters ought to know who is behind P magazine and Pacific Times. Is it Sedy Demesa of PleasantCare? Who exactly is Demesa and has she contributed directly or indirectly to certain political campaign here in the CNMI for that matter? The Office of the Public Auditor and the Election Commission should look into whether Demesa is behind certain political campaign here in the CNMI and whether these publications were created to circumvent campaign finance reporting requirements.

Ray C. Mafnas
Matansa, Saipan