Cabrera running for House seat, Guerrero backs out

Community and Cultural Affairs deputy secretary Carmen C. Cabrera has decided to run for a House seat for Precinct 3, Republican Party officials said.

GOP chair John S. Reyes and GOP executive director Felipe Atalig said yesterday that Cabrera declared her candidacy during a social gathering Sunday night.

At the same time, Reyes confirmed yesterday that Precinct 3 candidate Frank Q. Guerrero has backed out effective Wednesday for health reasons.

“He submitted his letter informing us that he can’t be a candidate during this election because he needs to get medical attention,” said Reyes.

Precinct 3, the second largest precinct on Saipan after Precinct 1, needs six candidates.

“We are working to fill that. Next week, there’s another announcement for the candidate,” Reyes.

So far, Precinct 3 candidates include incumbent congressmen Arnold I. Palacios and Ramon Tebuteb, newcomer Francisco I. Aquino, David Sablan, and Cabrera.

Reyes describes Cabrera as “a very professional lady.”

Although it is her first time to seek an elective post, Reyes said that Cabrera is not entirely new to politics.

“She’s been with the Republican [Party] for the past years,” he said.

Cabrera is currently the president of the GOP ladies association.

Atalig said Cabrera is “intelligent” and “an excellent addition” to the slate. As a representative from the women sector, he said that Cabrera can bring up issues that directly affect women.

“She has a tremendous role in representing women in the state level,” he said.

GOP endorses the re-election bid of Gov. Juan N. Babauta and Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente as well as Washington Rep. Pete A. Tenorio.

At the Senate, the party supports Sen. Thomas P. Villagomez and Commerce Secretary Andrew Salas.

For Precinct 1, the party endorses Reps. Benjamin B. Seman, Joseph Deleon Guerrero, and Martin Ada; newcomer Edward T. Salas, former congressman Manuel A. Tenorio, and Rep. Janet U. Maratita.

Precinct 2 has Eric B. Atalig, while precinct 4 has Enrique Dela Cruz and Candido Taman.

The party supports James A. Ada for the Saipan mayoralty, David Peter for the Northern Island mayoralty post, Sen. Joaquin G. Adriano as mayor for Tinian, and Vicente M. Atalig as mayor for Rota.

GOP senatorial candidates for Tinian are Ramon Dela Cruz and Jude U. Hofschneider and Sen. Diego Songao and Sen. Paterno S. Hocog for Rota.

Rep. Norman S. Palacios is the GOP candidate for the House of Representatives-Tinian and Juan Ayuyu is for House of Representatives-Rota.