{"id":27775,"date":"2014-02-17T17:32:56","date_gmt":"2014-02-17T09:32:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/newspaper2.ctsi-logistics.com\/?p=27775"},"modified":"2014-02-17T17:32:56","modified_gmt":"2014-02-17T09:32:56","slug":"15-bets-far-running-inos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/15-bets-far-running-inos\/","title":{"rendered":"15 bets so far running with Inos"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Former<\/a>
Former and incumbent government officials are among the guests in yesterday?s Republican Party picnic and get-together in Susupe. From left are Francisco Cruz, Antonio Agulto, Lt. Gov. Jude Hofschneider, Oscar Babauta, Jesus Lizama, and Arnold Palacios. (Moneth G. Deposa)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The CNMI Republican Party has so far 15 names on its slate for the general elections in November, but the figure is expected to grow once the official lineup is finalized for Tinian and Rota this week.<\/p>\n

The 15 confirmed candidates are running for positions up for grabs on Saipan. A few names may soon be added to the list once other potential candidates confirm their intention to run under the GOP banner.<\/p>\n

Leading the GOP slate for the Nov. 6 elections is the tandem of incumbent Gov. Eloy S. Inos and Senate President Ralph Torres, who led yesterday\u2019s picnic and get-together in Susupe where hundreds of supporters showed up for the team.<\/p>\n

In a random check at yesterday\u2019s event, Saipan Tribune got personal confirmation from majority of the 15 candidates who will pursue their political ambitions under the \u201cGrand Old Party.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the Saipan Senate seats, the GOP has two contenders: Arnold Palacios and Oscar Babauta, both former House lawmakers.<\/p>\n

For the House of Representatives, 11 people affirmed their decision to enter or re-enter politics.<\/p>\n

For Precinct 1, the GOP will be fielding four candidates: press secretary Angel Demapan, former lawmaker Richard Seman, Joseph Guerrero, and Gregorio Mu\u00f1a-Sablan Jr. Six positions up for grabs in this precinct.<\/p>\n

Precinct 2 chair Jesus Lizama said they have two candidates for this precinct: incumbent Ralph Demapan and incumbent John Paul Sablan.<\/p>\n

For Precinct 3, the GOP has for now two sure bets: incumbent Rep. Felicidad Ogumoro and former representative Stanley Torres. Six positions up for grabs in this election district.<\/p>\n

GOP candidates for Precinct 4 are incumbent George Camacho and fellow incumbent Christopher Guerrero.<\/p>\n

For Precinct 5, which has two posts that need to be filled, incumbent congressman Antonio Agulto has confirmed running in this district.
\nSome party chairmen disclosed yesterday that there remains \u201ca few names\u201d on the list of potential GOP candidates but they have yet to decide or confirm their decision with the party.<\/p>\n

Kickoff rally<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gov. Inos told Saipan Tribune that yesterday\u2019s picnic and get-together was only the second \u201cparty event\u201d held after he announced his candidacy around September last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince then, we haven\u2019t had any follow through events\u2026so I just thought [of this get-together] to keep the momentum going. Plus, we want to prepare them for a bigger event, hopefully a kickoff rally that would take place in the very near future with full slate [of candidates],\u201d Inos said, adding that get-togethers and picnics are important to make sure that party supporters are still on track.<\/p>\n

As of yesterday, the GOP has yet to elect a new set of officers. This is expected to happen in this week\u2019s scheduled meeting where the list of official candidates will also be finalized.<\/p>\n

GOP on Tinian, Rota<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saipan Tribune learned that, as of yesterday, there has been no final slate of candidates for Tinian after two GOP bets expressed interest in running for the mayoralty post: JP San Nicolas and Joseph Mendiola.<\/p>\n

Sources disclosed that wanting to run with San Nicolas as representative for Tinian is incumbent Trenton Conner; while former congressman Edwin Aldan, it was learned, wants to run for the same position with Mendiola.<\/p>\n

On Rota, some sources said that a potential mayoralty candidate for the GOP is Efren Atalig; Steve Mesngon\u2019s name is up for House representative; while incumbent Teresita Santos may seek a senatorial seat for Rota.<\/p>\n

A final endorsement of official candidates for the two islands is expected this week.<\/p>\n

Reforms in governance, public service<\/strong><\/p>\n

Inos told Saipan Tribune yesterday that the GOP platform will target reforms in two main areas: governance and public service.<\/p>\n

He said his administration\u2019s two major issues that need resolution are the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. and the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.<\/p>\n

Inos expressed concern over the latest results of the Medicare survey that found the public hospital still noncompliant in many areas.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got the CMS report and we need to work with the management and the [CHCC] board to ensure we resolve those issues,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Inos is also counting on the newly reconstituted CUC board to soon govern and guide the utilities corporation in its operation.<\/p>\n

Happy but not satisfied<\/strong><\/p>\n

Next week will mark Inos\u2019 first year in office as governor. When asked how he feels about this, he admitted to not being satisfied with what he has achieved so far.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am just finishing up my first year\u2026and I can say, am pretty happy but not altogether satisfied with the accomplishment,\u201d he told Saipan Tribune.<\/p>\n

But, considering the magnitude or severity of the many issues facing the CNMI, Inos said his administration was able to reduce if not fully resolve the then-multiple challenges of the government.<\/p>\n

One notable achievement under Inos\u2019 leadership is the settlement reached by parties in the Retirement Fund case. He said there are only two things left to do in the Fund issues: to make sure the money is there to meet the minimum guaranteed payment for the 75 percent pension payout; and restoring the 25-percent cut in the pension of retirees.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no reason to believe that these two will not be done or secured because the issue on 25-percent pension cut is now a working progress,\u201d said Inos, adding that a bill is pending at the Legislature, which proposes to establish a \u201cDeferred DB Restoration Fund\u201d where revenues to be identified for the purpose will be deposited in the account.<\/p>\n

Inos said this \u201cRestoration Fund\u201d will set the procedure for the manner and amount of how the deferred pension would be restored.<\/p>\n

Meantime, the governor conveyed his gratitude for the hard work demonstrated by Northern Marianas College officials and employees that allowed the college to regain its accreditation. Inos emphasized that the government will continue to support the institution and work with NMC to ensure its \u201csustainability.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The CNMI Republican Party has so far 15 names on its slate for the general…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":27777,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[26,141,223,133],"class_list":["post-27775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news","tag-cnmi","tag-gop","tag-party","tag-run"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27775","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27775"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27775\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27777"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27775"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27775"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}