Froilan: What letter of intent from Crisostimo?

Former governor and Democratic Party chair Froilan C. Tenorio denied yesterday that he is planning to get Sen. Luis Crisostimo as his running mate for this year’s gubernatorial race.

“I never wanted him to be my running mate. I want to set the record straight. I never thought of him [as my running mate]. I have my own running mate but I’m not ready to announce it right now,” said Tenorio in an interview.

Tenorio, who served as governor in the mid-90s, earlier announced that he would run again for the highest elective post in the upcoming November election.

To boost his political chances, Tenorio had rejoined the Democratic Party in September 2004 and had gotten himself elected as central committee chair.

In October last year, Crisostimo had told the media that he would also seek the party’s endorsement for governorship, indicating that he would not settle as Tenorio’s running mate. Crisostimo said he would only agree to the setup if Tenorio defeats him in a party primary.

“If he [Tenorio] beats me, then fine, he can go ahead but if I beat him in the primary, I’m the one running for governor and he’d be my lieutenant governor,” the senator said.

When reached yesterday, Tenorio said that he has not received Crisostimo’s Dec. 28, 2004, letter of intent to run as governor.

“I don’t know about that. I never knew he submitted one until today [from the newspaper]. Perhaps he doesn’t know the new mailing address of the party,” said Tenorio.

He said the senator can send his letter of intent to the party’s new address: PMB 850, P.O. Box 10006, Saipan.

Tenorio also denied that he had declined to accept Crisostimo’s letter, as claimed by Crisostimo’s group.

“I don’t have any choice but to receive it as party chairman. If he writes a letter I’ll accept it,” he said.

In the December letter, Crisostimo declared, “I humbly submit my letter of intent for the highest post… for office of the governor under the Democratic Party banner.”

In the letter, the senator did not discuss his plans if elected governor but focused mainly on the need for the local party to be affiliated with the national Democratic Party—putting a major distinction between him and Tenorio, who has publicly declared that he is a Republican at heart.

Tenorio had aligned himself with the Bush party during the last national election.

Tenorio was also perceived as uncooperative with federal authorities during his term as governor.

“As an official member of the party, our goal would be to link, associate, and harness the members of Congress and the administration’s full affiliation of the National Democratic Party and enjoy partisan support with the U.S.,” the senator said.

Through this, he said the local party will obtain “great party support and loyalty from our national leaders.”

He said the Democratic Party has very little future if it is not united within the CNMI. “[By] being united, we will represent not just the officers, members, and elected officials, but we represent the majority of the Commonwealth’s working class,” he said.

Crisostimo also noted the importance of the CNMI’s support for the United States in its international campaign for peace and democracy.

Tenorio said the party has until the end of the month to accept letters of intent for those who want to run for public office under the party.