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NMC to host congressional candidate debate
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Posted on Oct 04 2008
The voting youth of the CNMI are the future and need to be enlightened, Associated Students of NMC president Ivan T. Mereb Jr. said Friday at a press conference announcing a debate among candidates for the U.S. Congress delegate position.
ASNMC is working in conjunction with the Office of Youth Affairs and the Youth Congress to host the debate at the Multi-Purpose Center on Wednesday from 6pm to 7:30pm. The public is welcome and can submit questions by e-mailing them to 2008delegate@gmail.com
In the past, the youth voted for whom their elders voted for, Mereb said, but now students are casting their own votes and need to be informed.
The debate will offer students the opportunity to ask questions directly to the candidate.
Michael Manglona, special assistant for the Youth Affairs Office, said the election is historical for the CNMI.
“We’re going to be the last U.S. territory included in the U.S. Congress,” Manglona said. “On Nov. 4, I will vote for our voice. Who will that be? I don’t know. I want to know our candidates.”
Seven of the candidates will attend the debate: John Oliver Gonzales, Juan T. Lizama, Chong Won, David Cing, Resident Representative Pete A. Tenorio, John Davis and councilor Felipe Atalig. Sen. Luis Crisostimo and Gregorio Sablan will not be present because they have prior engagements.
ASNMC vice president Jose Tudelaa said the debate will help him learn more about the candidates as he prepares to vote for the first time.
“It gives me more information about the candidates,” he said. “It can help us more to understand where they’re coming from.”
The questions will be pre-screened and cover environmental, economics, social and political issues. The candidates will be asked at least five to seven questions.
