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Special election eyed for Yumul, Crisostimo seats
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Posted on May 28 2008
A special election may be needed to fill the seats that will be vacated by lawmakers running for the new delegate position.
At least two elected officials have thrown their hats into the delegate ring. Rep. Ray N. Yumul and Sen. Luis P. Crisostimo will have to resign once they have been certified as official candidates.
Under the Constitution, a special election must be held if there is a vacancy in the Legislature and more than one half of the term remains.
Both Crisostimo and Yumul just won fresh terms in the 2007 midterm election. Yumul has more than one year left of his two-year term, and Crisostimo has more than three years remaining.
“It looks like we’re going to have a special election—for Senator Crisostimo’s position, at least,” said Speaker Arnold I. Palacios.
Crisostimo is believed to be running as an independent candidate. Yumul will face off with Resident Rep. Pete A. Tenorio—and any other member of the NMI Republican Party—in the GOP primary, tentatively scheduled for July 12, 2008.
Tenorio, who is considered an “incumbent,” may not need to resign.
Unlike elected officials, government employees running for office are required to resign or take leave.
Commonwealth Election Commission executive director Gregorio C. Sablan, who has also declared his candidacy for delegate, went on leave starting Friday, May 23, 2008. He will resign once he has used up his leave credits.
Another candidate, Judge Juan T. Lizama, stepped down from the bench on Saturday, May 24, 2008.
The election for the delegate position will take place on Nov. 4, 2008.
The official period for submitting candidacy papers is from July 7 to August 6, 2008.
The Northern Marianas congressional delegate seat was included in a measure that requires the U.S. federal government to take over labor and immigration controls in the island group.
Under the new law, 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 commonwealth’s 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.
