CEC: BB, Crisostimo yet to file candidacies

Only three gubernatorial candidates have so far filed for candidacy in the Nov. 5 general election, according to the Commonwealth Election Commission.

As of last Friday, the Election Commission has received petition packages from Covenant Party’s Benigno R. Fitial and Timothy P. Villagomez, Democratic Party’s Froilan C. Tenorio and Antonio A. Santos, and independent candidates Heinz S. Hofschneider and David M. Apatang.

Those who have announced plans to run for the top CNMI post, but who have yet to formalize their candidacy, are incumbent Gov. Juan N. Babauta and Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente, and Populao National Democratic Party’s Luis Crisostimo.

CEC has also received petition packages from two candidates for Washington Representative, seven for the Senate, 27 for the House of Representatives, five for Saipan mayor, one for Tinian mayor, three for Rota mayor, three for the Saipan municipal council, one for the Rota municipal council, and one for Board of Education representative.

According to CEC executive director Gregorio Sablan, the Covenant Party has submitted the most number of petition packages for its slate members.

Sablan also revealed that about two-thirds of the reviewed petition packages have deficiencies or insufficient number of candidates.

In view of this, Sablan urged individuals seeking election to submit their petitions as early as possible and give themselves ample time to correct deficiencies.

The Board of Election is planning to meet and certify all candidacies on Aug. 9 or Aug. 10, 2005, as the deadline for submission of petition packages ends on Aug. 8.

“Because we can only review so many petitions a day, some packages may be reviewed after Aug. 8. If deficiencies are found, those petitions cannot be corrected and some people will not be certified as candidates,” Sablan explained.

He also expressed concern for Tinian and Rota candidates, noting that very few petitions have been submitted from these two islands. He reminded these candidates to file their petitions with the Election Commission on Capitol Hill in Saipan, not with the agency’s office in Tinian or Rota.

Furthermore, Sablan advised candidates who work full-time for the CNMI government that they will have to take a leave of absence from their government position immediately after certification of their candidacy.

Such candidates should continue on leave status until they are no longer candidates for public office.

“All government employees should plan to begin to take annual leave or be on leave without pay status the day after the date they are certified as candidates for the 2005 general election. Depending on when the commission certifies the candidates, leave status could begin on Aug. 10 or 11, 2005,” said Sablan.