Pete A. not declaring delegate bid yet

The CNMI’s resident representative to Washington still won’t say whether he is running to be the first Northern Marianas delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Washington Representative Pete A. Tenorio has said he would make a decision when the delegate bill becomes law. Now that it has, Tenorio says he is not ready to confirm rumors that he is indeed running.

The Northern Marianas delegate law calls for a November 2008 election for the Commonwealth’s first non-voting representative in Congress. The law was enacted Friday as part of an omnibus measure on natural resources and energy. The act also places local immigration under federal control.

“I didn’t think the President would sign the bill this soon. I thought it wouldn’t happen until Tuesday. I haven’t sat down with my family and friends about a possible candidacy,” Tenorio said in a press conference yesterday afternoon.

He said he plans to make an announcement by the middle of next week.

Tenorio, who has been the Commonwealth’s point person in the nation’s capital for six years, welcomed the creation of a U.S. delegate position for the CNMI.

“I am very pleased,” Tenorio said. “Finally we can move on, and the people of the CNMI can have a voice in the national legislative body. It is absolutely imperative that we have representation in Congress to make sure that the transition to federal immigration laws is as smooth and painless as possible.”

He added that there is a lot more an actual member of Congress do than a resident representative. “A delegate will be directly involved in the appropriations process, can oversee the development of regulations, request GAO [Governmental Accountability Office] studies, introduce legislation and amendments to this and other laws as needed. We need a delegate more than ever,” said Tenorio.

Under the delegate act, Northern Marianas will have a representative with limited voting powers to the U.S. House of Representatives. Similar to House members and other delegates, the CNMI delegate will be elected to Congress every two years. He can serve on committees, as well as vote on legislation at the committee level. But floor voting will not be permitted.

The CNMI delegate will assume office on the third day of January after the election.

To be eligible, a candidate must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen and CNMI resident for at least seven years before the election, and a qualified CNMI voter on the date of the election. A candidate for CNMI delegate must not be running for any other office.

The CNMI delegate will receive the same compensation, allowances, and benefits as a member of the House of Representatives. Each member of Congress is paid almost $170,000 a year.