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Borja welcomes coalition with Reform Party
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Posted on Jun 15 2000
Gubernatorial hopeful former Lt. Gov. Jesus C. Borja yesterday said he welcomes plans for a possible coalition between the Democratic and Reform parties to ensure victory over the Republicans in next year’s elections.
“I believe that many people in the Reform Party are still Democrats, so it is just good to have them back into the fold,” Mr. Borja said. Negotiations for the possible coalition, however, may have to be discussed by the party leadership, he added.
Sen. Ramon S. Guerrero has broached the idea of a coalition between the two parties although no formal offer have been made by the Reform Party to the Democratic Party leadership.
Mr. Guerrero said the possibility of winning in the year 2001 elections is high if the two parties will field a joint slate of candidates next year to face GOP aspirants. He stressed that the coalition can become a powerful force if one of GOP’s gubernatorial hopefuls eventually decides to run as independent after losing in the primary.
Lt. Gov. Jesus R. Sablan and running mate Senate Vice President Thomas P Villagomez will face the team of Resident Representative to Washington Juan N. Babauta and Rep. Diego T. Benavente in the primary, which will be held either late this year or early next year.
So far, only Mr. Borja has publicly announced his intention to run for governor under the Democratic Party, which has set its primary on July 14.
The former Supreme Court Justice believes that the victory of the Democratic Party in last year’s polls proved that the party has bounced back and regained its strength to dominate the political arena in the Northern Marianas.
Mr. Borja ran but lost in his gubernatorial bid as an Independent in 1997 general elections when he fought it out with against incumbent Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio of the Republican and former Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio.
