{"id":423869,"date":"2024-11-06T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-06T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=423869"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Palacios-I-m-very-optimistic-about-the-outcome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Palacios-I-m-very-optimistic-about-the-outcome\/","title":{"rendered":"Palacios: I\u2019m very optimistic about the outcome"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gov. Arnold I. Palacios is upbeat on the Democratic Party of the Northern Mariana Islands and independent candidates\u2019 chances in yesterday\u2019s 2024 general elections as he went around polling places on Saipan yesterday.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went around the whole island, to all the polling places, and they\u2019ve got a good presence in every polling place. So, I\u2019m very optimistic about the outcome. We\u2019ll see it tomorrow (today),\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Palacios affirmed\u2014through is his own observation\u2014that the election was peaceful and said that peaceful elections are the norm of the region. He also acknowledged that while people get excited, the election usually proceeds smoothly without significant incidents in the CNMI.<\/p>\n

The governor also expressed his satisfaction with the democratic process and commended the people who came out to vote.<\/p>\n

Palacios arrived past 2pm in the afternoon yesterday at the In-Dems tent located in front of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library in Susupe.<\/p>\n

According to Palacios, the JKPL poll site is the last polling place he visited, though he still might have a plan to go back to the Garapan Elementary School pollimg site where he voted early morning yesterday.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went to all the polling places today, so this is the last one probably I\u2019m going down to Garapan,\u201d said Palacios.<\/p>\n

The governor mentioned that \u201cmidterm\u201d elections typically have lower turnouts compared to general elections.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not going to be as high as the general election, that\u2019s usually the case with midterms, you know but it\u2019s up to the candidates now to get their base out,\u201d said Palacios.<\/p>\n

The governor also emphasized the importance of candidates mobilizing their base to vote, expressing optimism about the outcome despite the lower expected turnout.<\/p>\n

Propst comes out to vote<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, U.S. delegate candidate House floor leader Rep. Edwin K. Propst (D-Saipan) expressed his joy and pride as he emphasized the importance of exercising his constitutional right and voting for the right people after exercising his right to suffrage at Dandan Middle School yesterday morning.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel wonderful. I love every time we vote, it\u2019s a great feeling just exercising, of course, our constitutional right, but making a difference and trying to vote for the right people, and I believe that\u2019s what I did, along with my wife Daisy and my son, who turned 18. He is going to vote later on today. [I\u2019m] so very excited,\u201d said Propst.<\/p>\n

At around 9:30am yesterday, Propst along with Precinct 1 representatives seeking re-election Reps. Vincent Seman \u201cKobre\u201d Aldan (Ind-Saipan) and Diego Vincent Fejeran Camacho (D-Saipan) were seen waving from inside their tents located in front of the Dandan Middle School.<\/p>\n

Propst, his wife Daisy, Aldan, and Camacho walked inside the Dandan Middle School campus to vote past 10am. The line was not long, and the school cafeteria, where the voting was being held, could accommodate eight people.<\/p>\n

According to Propst, he woke up at 3am in the morning, to answer emails and messages from supporters.<\/p>\n

\u201cI woke up this morning at about 3am. I had to answer some emails and respond to some messages, and WhatsApp a lot of love and to respond to as many as I could. I\u2019m getting a ton of messages, and I\u2019m just sending it all the love and gratitude. We are the founders of an independent and democratic coalition,\u201d added Propst.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Camacho reiterated his faith in God and the people as he emphasized that the outcome is ultimately in the hands of the voters.<\/p>\n

\u201cElections are not guaranteed. You know, anything can happen. But I have faith in the people that they\u2019ve been following everything that we\u2019ve been doing for the past two years, and even before that, somebody didn\u2019t mention talked about change. Well, we changed. We changed it in 2022 we hope that people follow us and everything we\u2019re doing,\u201d said Camacho.<\/p>\n

Aldan shared his positive feelings for voting for his team and expressed his faith in the people\u2019s support, despite the unpredictability of election outcomes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have full faith, you know, in God and the people to decide whatever they think is best for, you know, the Commonwealth, you know, and whatever the result may be, it is what it is, you know, the people spoke and, you know, we just let God handle the things we can\u2019t handle, said Aldan.<\/p>\n

In an interview with Propst, he reflected on his 10-year journey, starting from his first electoral race with his wife Daisy 10 years ago, and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like to say it\u2019s been a great honor and privilege to serve these past 10 years, and I\u2019m prepared, as I should be for both outcomes, win or lose. I love our people. I have full faith in them, and I have the greatest respect. I want to thank Precinct 1 for giving me this opportunity, because 10 years ago, I went over there, walked over with my wife, Daisy, and we voted, and here we are, 10 years later, on the same day election day voting once again. So that\u2019s fantastic, one decade later,\u201d shared Propst.<\/p>\n

Aldan thanked the independent and Democratic coalition for their collective efforts and positive results over the past two years, while Camacho emphasized the importance of family and supporters.<\/p>\n

Propst extended his gratitude to his colleagues and the community, as he highlighted the importance of working together for the common good.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, fourth from the left, poses with Precinct 2 Democratic candidates. It\u2019s the last poll site of the 2024 CNMI general elections he visited yesterday.<\/p>\n

-RACQUEL H. FLOYD
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