Pete A., Crisostimo submit candidacy papers

Two more candidates have filed paperwork to run for congressional delegate in this November’s historic election.

CNMI Resident Representative to the United States Pete A. Tenorio and Sen. Luis Crisostimo filed with the Commonwealth Election Commission on Friday afternoon. Both were accompanied by family members and supporters, as they each submitted over 1,000 signatures with his nominating petition, exceeding the 200-signature threshold required to get certified as a candidate.

As of Friday, seven individuals have made formal bids to become the CNMI’s first-ever delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. The five candidates who filed earlier are television talk show host John Oliver Gonzales, retired Judge Juan Lizama, businessman Chong Won, former senator David Cing, and former Election Commission executive director Gregorio “Kilili” Sablan.

The deadline for filing candidacy is at 4:30pm on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008.

In an interview, Tenorio said his experience working in Washington, D.C. over the past six and a half years separates him from his six opponents.

“What I find to be so significant in this position is to have the experience working with members of Congress and with the [U.S.] administration, and to be able to articulate our problems and our needs both to Congress and to the administration. I think that my record speaks very clearly. I’ve done all I that I could to ensure we get the most benefits [from our political relationship with the United States],” he said.

Tenorio also cited his experience as a Covenant negotiator, as lieutenant governor for eight years, and as negotiator in the Section 902 and Section 702 talks with the federal government, as career highlights that will make him an effective CNMI representative to the U.S. Congress.

The candidate of the NMI Republican Party, Tenorio is facing the challenge of rallying party members to support his congressional bid. Some Republicans, including House Floor Leader Joseph James Camacho, have come out publicly in support of other candidates.

Ed Tenorio, president of the NMI Republican Party, said he will send out a letter to party members, particularly those current in office, to support the Republican nominee. Rep. Joseph Reyes, who is leading Tenorio’s campaign, also called on the local Republicans to back Tenorio’s candidacy. He specifically appealed to party members who have plans to run under the Republican banner in future elections, urging them not to do anything that may put their party loyalty to question.

For his part, Crisostimo said he will not give up his senatorial seat while running for Congress. “Being a public servant remains my greatest passion, and even during my campaign, I will continue to serve our people as their senator. I want the people of the Marianas to know that I am committed to building the Marianas together,” he said in a statement.

He also outlined his promises to the CNMI voters, saying, “If given the non-voting delegate seat, I vow never to sit down until our people have more jobs, never to sit down until our relationship with the federal government is strengthened, never to sit down until our islands gain more funding to subsidize the high cost of living, never to sit down until our people have more affordable utilities, never to sit down until our people have affordable healthcare, and never to sit down until our people are eventually able to have a vote in the U.S. Congress. My only promise is to stand up and to speak up for our people.”

Crisostimo is running as an independent candidate after the NMI Democratic Party rejected his application for its endorsement, and chose to nominate Cing.