8 candidates have so far filed petitions for November polls

Eight individuals have so far filed their petitions for candidacy with the Commonwealth Election Commission while two legislative initiatives have been turned in for this November’s midterm election.

Records from the agency show that five individuals have filed candidacies for House seats in various precincts, two filed for board of education posts, and only one has so far filed a petition for candidacy for U.S. delegate.

The five aspiring representatives are Ignacio V. Cabrera, who will run for a seat in Precinct 3; Eric Frank D. Diaz, for Precinct 2; John Paul P. Sablan, for Precinct 2; Rafael S. Demapan, for Precinct 2; and Mariano DLG. Fajardo, who will run for a House seat in Precinct 3.

For the Board of Education, Victorino S. Cepeda filed a petition on July 9 while Tanya King filed yesterday. Cepeda will run for Saipan while King is seeking re-election for Rota.

Incumbent Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan is so far the only filer at the moment for the U.S. delegate position.

Deadline for the filing of candidacies and legislative initiatives is on or before Aug. 8.

CEC executive director Robert Guerrero disclosed to Saipan Tribune that two legislative initiatives have been turned in to the commission for the November ballots. These are House Legislative Initiative 17-2, which seeks to make the attorney general position an elected one; and Senate Legislative Initiative 17-12, which seeks to amend Article 15 Section 2 (b) of the NMI Constitution authorizing the Northern Marianas College’s Board of Regents to revise NMC’s mission statement.

The CNMI midterm election is on Nov. 6 this year. The following positions are up for grabs: 20 seats at the House of Representatives; three seats at the Senate; three seats at the Board of Education; all municipal councils positions; and one position for U.S. delegate to the U.S. Congress.

Guerrero said yesterday that based on previous elections’ trends, most candidates will file their petitions the week before Aug. 8. He expects an influx of filers during the same period.

Guerrero said the commission expects to certify candidates a week after the filing deadline. At present, he said the agency is doing the continuing registration of voters and preparing election files and other documents for the midterm poll.

The commission had already identified and approved the 13 official polling places for the midterm election.

These various polling stations for each precinct level include the Hopwood Junior High School, Dandan Elementary School, and Koblerville Youth Center for Precinct 1 voters. This precinct covers registrants from San Antonio, San Vicente, and Koblerville.

For Precinct 2 voters, which included registrants from Chalan Kanoa and Susupe, the official polling station is the Joeten Kiyu Public Library, while the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium and the Garapan Elementary School’s northern side will accommodate Precinct 3 voters from the areas of Oleai and Garapan.

For Precinct 4 voters, the official polling stations are the Tanapag Youth Center, the Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School, Jesus P. Mafnas Legislative Building, and the Northern Islands. Precinct 4 voters are from Tanapag, San Roque, Capitol Hill, and the Northern Islands.

The Kagman Community Center will be the official polling site for voters in Precinct 5, covering residents of Kagman while Tinian Elementary School remains the official polling station for Precinct 6.

On Rota, the Northern Marianas College campus will accommodate voters on the island.