Fitial asks Republican lawmakers if they are seeking re-election

After telling some Republicans to “drink milk” if they’re unhappy with his selection as CNMI Republican Party president, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial is now asking GOP members of the Legislature to let him know by Dec. 30 whether they are seeking re-election.

Most Republican lawmakers asked for comment yesterday said they haven’t decided yet whether to seek re-election or not, and whether they will run under the Republican Party should they seek re-election.

Others like Rep. Tony Sablan (R-Saipan) and Rep. Joseph Palacios (R-Saipan) said they have yet to see the governor’s letter.

House minority leader Joseph Guerrero (R-Saipan), for his part, said he has yet to talk to his family and supporters on the issue of re-election.

“I am not in a hurry to make a decision,” he said.

One of the incumbents also said the governor’s letter seeks to “prioritize” Republicans “but where does that leave Covenant members?”

Fitial left the Republican Party to form the Covenant Party for his 2001 and 2005 gubernatorial bids. Although Fitial returned to the Republican Party in January this year, Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos, House members who ran under the Covenant Party, and other individuals remained with the Covenant Party.

Fitial, in his one-page letter to Republican incumbents, said a new provision added to the CNMI Republican Party bylaws is to grant membership to every registered voter in the CNMI “by simply desiring to be a Republican.”

The governor said for the 2012 elections, the new bylaws “specifically grant incumbent representatives and senators the opportunity to seek re-election, for the same position, as a candidate for our Grand Old Party.”

“If it’s your desire, and we hope it is, to seek re-election as a candidate for the RPNMIA, please submit in writing your letter of intent on or before December 30, 2011. Your letter can be hand-delivered to me or to any of the other Party officials or mail it to the address above or e-mail it to me at fitial@yahoo.com,” Fitial said.

The governor said as president of the party, he is honored to report that “we have been working diligently to address many suggestions that we continue to receive from our members to ensure that our party is strong and successful in the upcoming mid-term elections.”

He said an important suggestion is to strengthen party membership by welcoming new members and “to do whatever is necessary to put in place a strong organization and party machinery from the grassroots level, starting with our families, friends and neighbors, all the way to the national level before the 2012 elections.

“Thus, our party is made stronger by virtue of the increase in numbers and in quality of leadership as well,” Fitial said.

Fitial was unanimously chosen by those present at a meeting early this month when Juan N. Babauta stepped down to devote his time as chief executive officer of the Commonwealth Health Corp.

But sitting Republican lawmakers said they were not invited to the Saturday meeting nor were they informed about amendments to the party bylaws that paved the way for Fitial, an elected official, to become party president.