Rep. Ray Yumul said yesterday that he remains a member of the House leadership and still considers himself a part of the Covenant Party.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m still with the Covenant Party. I\u2019m still a member of the leadership,\u201d Yumul stressed in an interview.<\/p>\n
The congressman, who won his re-election bid as an independent candidate in the Nov. 5 elections, admitted that he expressed his desire to become the vice speaker but he respects his colleagues\u2019 decision to give the post to Democratic Party congressman Justo Quitugua.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy ambition for vice speaker ended when members supported Rep. Quitugua during a caucus two weeks ago. I have no issues with that now,\u201d said Yumul.<\/p>\n
He expressed belief that Quitugua is good choice for the post, owing to his experience and educational background.<\/p>\n
Yumul said he failed to attend the leadership\u2019s meeting on Friday due to flu.<\/p>\n
During the Friday meeting, the group made public its choice for Rep. Oscar M. Babauta as the next speaker and the inclusion of three non-Covenant Party lawmakers to the leadership bloc: Quitugua and congressman-elect Florencio Deleon Guerrero of the Democratic Party, and Rep. Martin Ada of the Republican Party.<\/p>\n
Ada would get the chairmanship of the Committee on Commerce, which was previously chaired by Yumul prior to his assignment in Iraq.<\/p>\n
Yumul\u2019s military affiliation also explains why Yumul had to run independent of the Covenant Party. Yumul, an Army Reservist, has since returned from Iraq and will resume his work as a legislator.<\/p>\n
The congressman said yesterday that he is not really \u201coverly ambitious\u201d as other might think.<\/p>\n
\u201cI chose to remain silent [over the vice speakership] because I don\u2019t want to make a big deal out of it. Some think that I\u2019m overly ambitious. I\u2019m not. I\u2019m a reasonable man. I don\u2019t demand for the world,\u201d said Yumul.<\/p>\n
The congressman disclosed that he actually had a Friday afternoon meeting with Gov.-elect Benigno R. Fitial, Rep. Babauta, and Rep. Ada when he felt better from the flu. During the meeting, it was affirmed that he remains with the leadership and that Ada would get the Commerce Committee chairmanship.<\/p>\n
As for himself, Yumul said that he would get special projects or special tasks addressing issues that affect the economic recovery in the CNMI.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe governor-elect is interested in having me to work on special issues concerning economic revitalization,\u201d said Yumul.<\/p>\n
He said that there is a possibility of creating a new committee on foreign investments but the House leadership has to decide on it.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs far as what the governor-elect wants for me, he wants me to assist in the quick implementation of policies and procedures so that we can revive the economy. It includes ways on how to quickly entice foreign investments,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Yumul holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in business administration and marketing. His family owns YCO Hardware, Liberty Plaza, Jollibee, Naked Fish Bar and Restaurant, among known business interests.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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