Tenorio spent $37K in bid for delegate seat

Outgoing Washington Resident Rep. Pete A. Tenorio has reported spending a little over $37,000 in his failed bid for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Tenorio is the only candidate from the Northern Marianas who has his campaign financing now available for inspection on the Federal Election Commission’s website.

Based on Tenorio’s pre-election report, the FEC information shows that as of Oct. 31, 2008, Tenorio received $21,373 in contributions from individuals and the NMI Republican Party. Tenorio gave $10,227 out of his own pocket, bringing his campaign fund to a total of $31,600.

Meanwhile, the campaign posted a net cost of $37,650. This means that as of the end of October, Tenorio’s campaign was in debt by $4,175.

Individual contributors to Tenorio’s campaign include: Northern Marianas College dean Felicitas Abraham, $1,225; retiree Isamu Abraham, $400; former CNMI lt. governor Francisco C. Ada, $500; Washington, DC-based attorney Thomas Crowe, $250; Docomo Inc. counsel David Jeppsen, $250; Sen. Maria Frica Pangelinan, $300; Century Insurance president David Sablan, $250; Virginia-based attorney Orson Swindle III; and businessman Juan S. Tenorio, $1,450.

The campaign also received contributions from Tenorio’s employees, including: chief of staff Malinda Matson, $1,152; administrative and finance officer Rose McDermott, $250; and legislative assistant Roman T. Palacios, $250.

Tenorio’s final disclosure for the 2008 election is due in January.

According to a press release issued by the FEC, some individuals and their committees have no obligation to file reports under federal election law, even though their names may appear on state ballots. If an individual raises or spends less than $5,000, he or she is not subject to reporting under the law.

Delegate-elect Gregorio Kilili Sablan spent less than $50,000 on his campaign, said his campaign treasurer Edward Manglona. Sablan’s report was submitted several days late to the FEC, and is not yet available for viewing on the website.

Other candidates who ran in the CNMI’s first-ever election for a non-voting delegate are: television talk show host John Oliver Gonzales, retired judge Juan T. Lizama, Sen. Luis Crisostimo, former senator David Cing, Saipan municipal councilman Felipe Q. Atalig, businessman Chong Man Won, and high school teacher John Davis.