3 vie for House speaker post

With less than a month before 19th House of Representatives convenes, the race for the House speakership is turning out to be a three-horse contest, with incumbent House Speaker Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan) set to be challenged by Rep. Ramon Tebuteb (Ind-Saipan) and House floor leader Ralph Demapan (R-Saipan).

Deleon Guerrero said nothing is set in stone yet as far as the leadership of the 19th House of Representatives is concerned but confirmed that he wants to continue occupying the position.

“If my colleagues are willing to support me, then I will again be the next speaker. That’s what it boils down to. It’s a numbers game. It really depends on the group on who they want to vote for,” he said.

Tebuteb, who is currently chairman of the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation, has also made known his intention to vie for the speakership.

“I just wish the speaker would endorse me,” he said, eliciting a laugh from Deleon Guerrero as both were in the same room when interviewed by Saipan Tribune.

Deleon Guerrero and Tebuteb may be considered greybeards in the House as both came to the lower chamber at the same time in 2002 after winning seats in the 2001 election.

Demapan didn’t beat around the bush when asked about his plans for the 19th Legislature.

“Of course it’s no secret I’m vying for the speakership. Talks are still ongoing and I wish I could comment more. Yes, I’m interested in being the next speaker and I’m humbly requesting the members to believe in me,” he told Saipan Tribune in a separate interview.

The incoming three-term lawmaker, however, noted that if his quest for the speakership fails, he would have no problem working with the next House speaker.

“If I also did not manage to pull through I will continue to work with whoever the speaker is and I will give him my 100 percent.”

In the House, 13 of the 20 incoming representatives are independent candidates with the remaining seven belonging to the GOP.

Aside from Deleon Guerrero and Tebuteb, re-elected independents include Anthony P. Sablan, Edmund Villagomez, Ralph N. Yumul, Anthony T. Benavente, Roman Benavente, and Larry Deleon Guerrero.

Independent incoming representatives include Edwin Propst, Edwin Aldan, Francis Taimanao, Vinson Sablan, and Blas Jonathan “BJ” Attao.

Aside from Demapan, other incumbent GOP representatives are Felicidad Ogumoro, John Paul P. Sablan, and George Camacho, while newly elected Republican representatives are Angel Demapan, Joseph “Leepan” T. Guerrero, and Glenn L. Maratita.

The 18th Legislature sine die [final session] is on Jan. 5. 2015, while the 19th Legislature will be inaugurated on Jan. 12, 2015.