GOP appreciative of supporters, voters for runoff win

The NMI Republican Party yesterday praised the support of the CNMI community that propelled its standard bearer, Gov. Eloy S. Inos and Senate President Ralph DLG. Torres (R-Saipan), to victory in the Nov. 21 runoff election.

Inos and Torres were certified by the Commonwealth Election Commission last Friday evening, a few hours after the CEC completed the counting of absentee ballots. The final count saw the GOP team garnering 6,877 votes against the 5,133 received by the independent pair of former House speaker Heinz S. Hofschneider and former Senate floor leader Ray N. Yumul.

Inos

NMI GOP president James Ada was effusive in thanking CNMI voters for their vote of confidence in the party’s gubernatorial ticket.

“I am both overwhelmed and humbled by the insurmountable level of support from the people. All I can say is si yu’us ma’ase, ghilisou, maraming salamat po, and thank you. Thank you for voting for your GOP team of mayors, senators, representatives and, most importantly, thank you for entrusting the CNMI leadership to Inos and Torres. We continue to pray for guidance and wisdom from our Lord as we serve you, the people of the CNMI.”

Ada said Inos and Torres would now be setting their sights on how to best govern the islands in the next four years.

“We have immediately begun our public service to you in accordance with the GOP platform. We are not waiting, but are pleased to share that our sleeves are rolled up, and we have hit the ground to begin working,” he said.

In a Friday interview during the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center, Inos said he would be issuing a directive creating a transition committee to handle his and Torres’ inauguration on Jan. 12, 2015.

He also said he will follow through on his promise to ask Cabinet members to submit their courtesy resignations this week.

“I will be asking [my] Cabinet to submit their courtesy resignations soon after [the formation of the transition committee],” said Inos.

The governor also took time to thank CNMI voters for allowing him and Torres to head the Commonwealth government for the next four years.

“I want to thank the folks that voted after the general election for the wonderful result. I very much believe in them as they believe in my running mate and me. We’re ready to roll our sleeves and get into the second phase of progress. We have lots to do for the people of the Commonwealth,” he said.

Hofschneider-Yumul Committee-to-elect chair David Attao, meanwhile, said although the independent pair fell short in the runoff election for governor, he is still proud of what they achieved in the past several months.

“We continue to extend our appreciation to our supporters and voters who helped us throughout the elections—both the general and the runoff. We worked hard and with a lot of passion and drive. Although we didn’t have the numbers, we won a lot of hearts.”

Attao also congratulated the Inos-Torres team for their victory in the runoff.

“We once again congratulate the winners and continue to hope they do the best the can for all of us in the CNMI.”