8 incumbents lose •Democrats increase representation By MAR-VIC CAGURANGAN

Saturday’s polls yielded surprising results including the defeat of Saipan Republican Sen. Juan P. “Morgen” Tenorio, the rise of the Democrats, and the unseating of six Republican incumbents in the House of Representatives.

Although the Republicans continue to claim the upper hand in the lower house, Democrats have managed to seize six of the 18 seats.

Ramon S. “Kumoi” Deleon Guerrero, who unseated Tenorio by a huge margin, was the only Reform Party candidate who made it in the midterm race. Guerrero got 4,439 votes against Tenorio’s 3,862.

In yet another surprising twist, the Democrats swept out the bastion of Republican power in District I. Incumbents Karl T. Reyes, Manuel A. Tenorio, Ana Teregeyo and Herman Palacios were edged out of the race by Democrats Florencio DeLeon Guerrero, Antonio Muna Camacho, Rosiky Camacho, and newcomer Brigida Deleon Guerrero Ichihara. Incumbent Republican David Apatang has kept his seat and is the topnotcher in the district.

The only Democrat incumbent dislodged from the House was Maximo “Timo” Olopai of District III.

Yes, No

The voters said “no” to the retention of Superior Court Judge Timothy Bellas, who will thus have to leave the post upon expiration of his term in year 2001. Of 10,932 votes cast on the judge retention issue, only 4,904 read “yes,” which is more than 500 votes short of reaching the majority.

The controversial Legislative Initiative 11-1, which seeks to restrict to the “indigenous” the right to vote on Article 12 issues, was ratified. Of 10,840 votes cast on this initiative, the “yes” votes registered at 5,930, which account for the majority.

The voters, complaining about the lack of public education on proposals presented at the referendum, rejected Legislative Initiative 11-4 (the proposal to establish separate finance offices for the legislature and the judiciary); Tinian Popular Initiative (which revises the Tinian Casino Gaming Law); and the Rota Local

Initiative (which seeks the establishment of casino industry in the island).

The tally showed that several voters abstained from answering the initiative issues. Voters interviewed by the Tribune said it took them between 15 and 25 minutes to mark the boxes for initiatives, which they said they read for the first time. Others, who confessed to lack of patience to read, decided to simply reject the proposals without bothering to review them.

Peaceful

Board of Elections Executive Director Gregorio Sablan said the elections were generally peaceful and orderly as he had expected.

Voters turnout registered at 80 percent, which was much lower than that of the 1997 general elections which showed a 92 percent participation.

“Midterm elections are less exciting than gubernatorial elections. I expected something a little higher though,” Sablan said.

Unexpected

Republican Party president Frank Camacho expressed surprise at the election results, particularly on the senatorial race.

He said he did not expect the Democrats — who used to have only three members in the lower house — to double their representation at the expense of Republicans.

“I can’t think of any reason why it happened. There must be a lot of factors involved. The Democrats must have worked harder than we did that they gained three more seats in the House,” Camacho said.

As for Guerrero, Camacho said “he must have worked really hard.”

“We tried to work hard, but I think the electorate wanted to see changes. The most important thing is that the people have decided,” Camacho said.

At any rate, he said he was glad that none of the candidates from all parties resorted to mudslinging during the campaign period.

“Everybody did a positive campaigning and that was good,” Camacho said.

Winners, losers

Incumbent Democrat Sen. David Cing of Tinian has kept his post, dousing the bid of his Republican rival Jose Ada Hocog.

Independent senatorial candidate Glen H. Manglona of Rota, likewise, failed to dislodge incumbent Republican Sen. Paul A. Manglona.

Saturday’s elections witnessed the political comeback of former House members in District 3, including former House Speaker Ben Fitial and fellow Republican Stanley Torres. Also joining Torres and Fitial in the district are former Education Commissioner William S. Torres, incumbent Republicans Heinz Hofschneider, who got the highest number of votes, Jesus T. Attao, and independent Malua T Peter. Dislodged from their seats were Democrat Rep. Maximo Olopai and Republican Melvyn O. Faisao.

In District 4, Democrat Dino Jones has been reelected, while former Board of Education member Tom Pangelinan, a Republican, has snatched the seat away from his party mate, incumbent Frank G. Cepeda.

District 6 Rep. Alejo Mendiola, a Republican, has secured reelection.

For the Board of Education, PTA vice president Roman Benavente beat former Retirement Fund Director Edward Manglona in one of two Saipan seats. Esther Fleming remains a board member for Saipan, so does Marje Lee Taitano, who won in Rota without a contest.