Democratic Party bets file candidacies

Gubernatorial candidate Edward M. “Tofila” Deleon Guerrero and his running mate, Daniel O. Quitugua, led the reorganized Democratic Party’s filing of petitions and candidacy on Friday morning, surrounded by their families, friends and supporters. The Democratic Party has 11 candidates in the November general elections.

Democratic Party’s gubernatorial candidate Edward M. “Tofila” Deleon Guerrero, center, and his running mate Daniel O. Quitugua, left, lead the party’s filing of petitions and candidacy on Friday morning at the Commonwealth Election Commission in Susupe. (Haidee V. Eugenio)

The Deleon Guerrero-Quitugua’s filing brings to three the number of gubernatorial teams that have so far filed for candidacy with the Commonwealth Election Commission, including the Republican Party and one independent tandem. At least one more independent gubernatorial tandem is expected to file soon, leading to a four-way gubernatorial race that could set the CNMI up for another runoff election.

Rosiky F. Camacho, chairman of the Democratic Party, said he’s hoping that voters would vote on the basis of issues rather than personalities.

“We are ready to debate them anytime, anywhere,” Camacho told Saipan Tribune after the candidates’ filing.

Deleon Guerrero, a former executive director of the Commonwealth Ports Authority, said he’s “happy” and “relieved” that the Democratic Party candidates have already filed their candidacies, to be followed by a more intense house-to-house campaign.

“We knock on every door that we see, from village to village. I believe that’s how we can understand fully what the problems are in the community,” he said, adding that the party has a platform and talking points addressing identified problems.

Children were also at the filing, owing to the Democratic Party’s emphasis on the future of children from the CNMI and slogan, “What about us?”

“This is to signify we are running because we feel that we need to protect the future of the young generation in the CNMI and to make the CNMI a better place to live,” Deleon Guerrero said.

Besides Deleon Guerrero as gubernatorial candidate and Quitugua as lieutenant governor candidate, the Democratic Party also has former Commerce secretary Andrew Salas as candidate for CNMI nonvoting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.

The other Democratic Party candidates are: Jesus I. Taisague, who is seeking a Saipan senatorial seat; Antonio P. Mareham as Saipan mayor bet; former senator David Cing for Tinian mayor; Precinct I candidates Francis B. Angel, Vince Cabrera, Nelson P. Rios and Calistro I. Reyes; and Precinct II candidate Bruce Iglecias.