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Atalig launches bid to represent District II
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Posted on Jan 19 2009
Businessman Eric Atalig re-launched yesterday his bid to become the next Representative of District II (Susupe) for the upcoming general elections in November.
Atalig met with members of a committee endorsing his candidacy at the Susupe Community Center and Basketball Court.
The committee is composed of chair Joe Lizama, vice chair Jose Rasa, youth chair Billy Dela Cruz, and advisers Antonio Benavente, Gordon Marciano and Felix Limes.
Atalig said he is running under a platform of community improvement.
“The current representatives are lacking in programs for the district,” said the 40-year old Atalig, who ran in 2005 under the Republican Party and lost the seat by 60 votes to Rep. Oscar Babauta.
This time, he will be running as an independent candidate.
“But it’s not about political parties. I will still work with anyone on any issue,” he said.
Atalig talked about the economic crisis as the biggest challenge the CNMI is facing.
He also lamented the exclusion of Russia and China from the visa waiver program.
“However, there are more simple things that we can do to help ease some of these problems like clean-up drives to make the community more enticing to investors and the putting up of more infrastructure in villages,” he said.
Atalig worked for seven years for the Department of Public Works before he went into private business.
“The problem is that there is no real program for the youth. As you can see, this community center is dilapidated, with graffiti everywhere. We want to make sure that the youth will have a place to spend like two to three hours,” he said.
He said he will also make himself available to help improve the educational system.
“There is nothing wrong with the PSS, but they need support from me. They need someone from the House to work with them and I feel like I can do a lot of things for PSS,” Atalig said.
