MILE endorses Heinz-Ray

Before a packed crowd of Heinz and Ray supporters Thursday evening, M.I.L.E CNMI members led by their chairman, AJ Ichihara, officially endorsed the gubernatorial team of Heinz Hofschneider and Ray Yumul.

M.I.L.E. is composed of U.S. citizen children of contract worker parents who organized themselves to educate other U.S. citizen children of contract workers and the youth in general about election issues.

Ichihara said the group felt that Hofschneider and Yumul have the best solutions to revive the CNMI economy, create jobs, improve the healthcare system, reduce CUC rates and afford the people of the CNMI with a transparent administration.

Hofschneider and Yumul met with the group a month ago and one of the issues that resonated with the group was about bringing back to the CNMI the manhobens (youth) who graduated from college and giving them the opportunity to return home and work.

“The team of Heinz and Ray were very humble and sincere and this was one of the reasons why we selected them. They truly care about the state of our islands and its people and are passionate about helping turn things around,” he said.

Ichihara encourages all young voters to exercise their right to vote today.

“We need change and the CNMI needs new independent leaders who listen to the youth’s needs and concerns,” he said.

He said the group opposes the casino law and is disappointed at how it was passed “behind closed doors.”

“This casino law is a bad law that leaves out the majority of our people. We need our government to represent the needs of the people and not be involved in secret deals that benefit a select business and selected politicians. We need change and we desperately need it now,” he said.

Ronnie Doca, who serves as the adviser for the group, was pleased that its members were able to decide amongst themselves on who to endorse. Doca is president of the Pilipino Contract Workers Association Inc. and board chairman of the United Workers Movement. (MILE)