Tinian’s incumbent officials to run again

Three incumbent Tinian officials will seek re-election this November under the Covenant Party.

Mayor Jose P. San Nicolas, Sen. Joseph Mendiola, and Rep. Edwin Aldan all declared their intention to run for another term during a party gathering Tuesday.

San Nicolas is currently serving his first term in office. Mendiola is in his second term as senator, while Aldan is on his second term as congressman.

Another supporter of the mayor, Joaquin Borja, also announced his intention to run for a Senate seat on Tinian.

Chairing San Nicolas’ committee to re-elect is former mayor Herman M. Manglona. Also present at the Covenant Day meeting were former senator David M. Cing, Sen. Henry H. San Nicolas, Municipal Council chair Antonio H. Borja, vice-chair Charlene M. Lizama, councilman Eugene L. Villagomez, and the family of the late senator Joaquin G. Adriano.

“We met [Tuesday] to reaffirm our commitment to work together for all Tinian residents. We have three years of solid accomplishment and we stand ready to provide the same quality service and representation to the people of Tinian,” said San Nicolas.

Mendiola took the opportunity to declare his support for the incumbent mayor and fellow officials in the upcoming election.

“My family, supporters, and I stand ready to support Mayor San Nicolas, Congressman Aldan, and Director Borja because we believe that together we can continue developing our island,” said Mendiola, who is also the incumbent chairman of the Tinian Legislative Delegation.

During the meeting, the candidates expressed their desire to continue providing opportunities to Tinian youth and man ‘amko while improving Tinian’s infrastructure.

“We are building roads, improving our ports, training our people, supporting our tourism and casino industries, beautifying our island, and ensuring that our children are receiving opportunities to succeed,” said the candidates in a joint statement.

San Nicolas, Mendiola, Borja, and Aldan ran together under the Covenant Party ticket in 2005. They are once again asking the people of Tinian for their vote of confidence in the 2009 general election.

Support for the mayor and his slate were also expressed by former Republican senator Manny Villagomez, former Republican senator Esteven M. King, and former Republican congressman Francisco T. Cabrera, along with former council chairman Edward A. Villagomez.

In an interview, San Nicolas described the present year as the most challenging one for Tinian. Since 1998, only Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino has been providing assistance to the local municipality.

The mayor, who intends to keep the jobs of all his 139 employees, is looking at implementing a two-month furlough rather than a massive layoff of personnel.

With the anticipated military buildup in Guam, Tinian is also expected to economically benefit from the plan.