Youth Congress sets run-off elections Monday

By MARIAN A. MARAYA

Staff Reporter

The Youth Congress will hold run-off elections Monday for two youth senatorial seats left vacant after election results reflected a deadheat between contenders vying for the positions.

Write-in candidates under Precinct no. 3 Keola Wabol and Jesse Elameto earned an equal number of votes while certified candidates Jovon Charfauros and Antonio Castro are also caught in a deadlock.

According to Youth Congress Administrative Officer Mike Evangelista, a fresh slate of candidates may vie for the last precinct no. 3 senatorial seat during the Sept. 25 open run-off elections which will accommodate all write-in candidates.

The Legislative Bureau will also slate a run-off election for precinct no. 5 where the youth voters’ choice will zero in only between Mr. Charfauros and Mr. Castro.

Meanwhile, unofficial results for the precinct level polls list the following as the candidates with the highest number of votes: Angel Demapan, Luis Dlg. Guerrero, and Manuel Tenorio Jr. for precinct no. 1; Ramona Concepcion for precinct no. 2, Eulalia S. Villagomez and Caroline Christine P. Fitial for precinct no. 3; Dane Palacios for precinct no. 4; and Maryanna Mendiola for precinct no. 6.

Pedro Kakuse of Calvary Christian Academy, Joshua Blalock of Grace Christian Academy, Aileen Ada of Marianas Baptist Academy, Keoni Dlg. Ichihara and Alisa Ann Torres of Marianas High School, Colleen Macduff of Mount Carmel High School, Frances Somorang of Northern Marianas Academy, Margaret Ashlee Tenorio, Absinthe Algaier, and Carmen Sablan of Northern Marianas College, Jeannette Sablan of Tinian High School, and Tanya M. Taisacan of Rota High school also emerged with the most votes at the school level.

Official election results have yet to be certified by the House floor leader within the next few days.

Meanwhile, the bureau noted a total of 50 write-in candidates during Monday’s 3rd CNMI Youth Congress elections.

Mr. Evangelista said a significant number of youth voters inserted on their ballots write-in candidates, an indication that aside from the official candidates, quite a few other youths have an interest to run for public office.

“The big turnout for write-ins tells us that the interest is there but I guess they’re just too shy to announce their candidacy. But then, their contemporaries voted for them as write-in candidates, so this means, they also engaged in grassroots campaigning. Maybe they just need the right motivation to boost their confidence,” said Mr. Evangelista.