Joe DL Guerrero likely to replace Benavente as House minority leader

Rep. Joe Deleon Guerrero (R-Saipan) is likely to be the next House minority leader when the post is vacated by Diego Benavente (R-Saipan), who will be resigning effective July 16 to be able to spend more time with his family.

Deleon Guerrero and Rep. Ray Tebuteb (R-Saipan) are the two most senior members in the minority bloc.

But Tebuteb, in a phone interview yesterday, said he will “graciously decline” if he’s selected because, among other things, he is already the current chairman of the 21-member Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation.

“I would recommend Congressman Joe,” he said.

Deleon Guerrero, in a separate interview, said he’s willing to be the next minority leader if he’s elected.

“If they vote for me, then yes, I will serve,” he said.

The minority bloc will wait for the governor’s appointment of former Rep. Janet Maratita to fill in the vacancy in the Legislature once Benavente’s resignation takes effect.

Article II Section 9 of the NMI Constitution says that when less than one-half of the term remains, the governor shall fill the vacancy by appointing the unsuccessful candidate for the office in the last election who received the largest number of votes and is willing to serve or, if no candidate is available, a person qualified for the office from the district represented.

That person is Maratita, who is currently program manager for the Department of Public Health’s Diabetes and Non-Communicable Disease Control.

“Out of respect for former Congresswoman Maratita, we will wait until she decides whether to align with the minority or the majority. If she decides to align with the minority, then she will have a vote on who she thinks should be the next minority leader,” Deleon Guerrero said.

Benavente, for his part, said he does not want to recommend a replacement because the decision should rest on the remaining minority members.

Benavente, one of the longest serving lawmakers, spent more than 15 years in the Legislature as a speaker, minority leader, and member. He served as lieutenant governor from 2002 to 2006 to then governor Juan N. Babauta.

Rep. Ray Yumul (R-Saipan), who had earlier indicated eyeing the minority leadership, could not say as of yesterday whether he would like to be considered as next minority leader.

Yumul only said yesterday Maratita will be welcomed to take part in the minority’s voting process when the time and date is set.

House Speaker Eli Cabrera (R-Saipan), for his part, said he’s confident that Maratita will align herself with the majority. But he said it does not matter which side Maratita chooses because she will be welcomed by both majority and minority blocs.

Maratita won a seat in the 14th House of Representatives as a Republican. In the last election, she ran under the Covenant Party, but lost. During the gubernatorial runoff election, she endorsed Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos.