Dems unanimously endorse Barcinas’ candidacy

Members of the CNMI Democratic Party pose for a photo after unanimously voting to endorse former Republican representative Donald Barcinas. (Kimberly A. Bautista)

The CNMI Democratic Party unanimously voted to endorse former Republican Party member Donald Barcinas in the upcoming special election for Precinct 3 representative on March 23.

Nola Hix, CNMI Democratic Party chair and the party’s first female chair since its inception, said that the Democrats fully support Barcinas despite the fact that he switched parties because they share the same beliefs and are willing to fight for them.

“Basically, it all aligns with why he switched parties. He basically switched from the Republican to the Democrats because of his morals and how he felt about the cannabis bill that was brought about. …Mainly, when he came to us, he believed in the two-party system, he knew that when he wasn’t going to be aligned with the Republicans he was going to be a Democrat and this is what democracy is all about, we don’t want to leave any stone unturned…we want them to know that they do have a party to call home and that is the Democratic Party,” she said Wednesday night at the Grandvrio Hotel.

Barcinas said that he is honored and excited to belong to a party that believes in the same issues as him and supports what he believes in.

“I believe that we need to redirect our focus on our economy and encourage local entrepreneurship and local investors rather than foreign investors. I think that our economy would be more sustainable in the long run. And the money would stay here instead of moving out of the Commonwealth,” he said.

Barcinas said the support he has received from the party in the short span that he has been a part of it has been tremendous.

“…I feel very honored and fortunate that there is a party that’s willing to work with me in this special election and for the betterment of our Commonwealth and for our people, our children, our future,” he said.

Barcinas is confident that he can bring change to Precinct 3 if he is elected but he also gave credit to the late representative Frank Dela Cruz.

“I want to give credit to my colleague. This was his seat and he was a very special person to me. The legacy that he left behind, it’s hard to follow but I would like, and I am willing, to follow in his footsteps. He spoke for the people and what he stood for, for the good of the Commonwealth,” he said.