10 more independents file candidacies

Former Saipan senator Ray N. Yumul is running again for senator, while nine more, including incumbent representatives, have filed their candidacies for the House of Representatives.

The 10 are all running as independent candidates.

Ray Yumul and his brother, Rep. Ralph N. Yumul (Ind-Saipan), were among the seven persons who filed their candidacies before the Commonwealth Election Commission in Susupe yesterday afternoon.

Ralph Yumul is seeking re-election for a House precinct 3 seat.

The five others who filed their candidacies yesterday were Rep. Jonathan Blas Attao (Ind-Saipan) for precinct 3, Rep. Lorenzo I. Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan) for precinct 5, Rep. Roman C. Benavente (Ind-Saipan) for precinct 1, Rep. Vinnie F. Sablan (Ind-Saipan) for precinct 4, and Joseph Arriola Flores for precinct 1. Except for Flores, all are incumbent representatives.

Last week, incumbent Reps. Ramon A. Tebuteb (Ind-Saipan) and Anthony T. Benavente (Ind-Saipan) also filed for candidacies together with Vicente C. Camacho. The three are independents.

Tebuteb and Benavente are seeking re-election for precinct 3. Camacho is also running for precinct 3.

Yesterday’s filings brought to a total of 14 persons who filed their candidacies for the Nov. 8 general elections since the Commonwealth Election Commission started accepting submission of nominating petitions and candidacy last July 11.

Anthony Indalecio Duenas, Herman Manglona Atalig, and Andrew Lujan Orsini recently filed their candidacies.

Duenas is running as an independent for a House of Representatives precinct 1 seat.

Atalig filed his candidacy for Board of Education Rota position, while Commonwealth Utilities Corp. human resources manager Orsini filed his candidacy for BOE Saipan position.

Former lawmaker Antonio Muna Camacho was the first to file his candidacy. He is running as an independent for a House of Representatives precinct 5 seat.

Camacho is a former representative.

Election commission acting executive director Julita Villagomez reminded the public that the deadline to file nominations and candidacy is Aug. 10.

She said CEC commissioners have to meet to certify the candidates.

There are 35 seats up for grabs in the coming Nov. 8 general elections.

Villagomez said it used to be called mid-term elections, but the election commission now calls it general elections.