Democrats reunite By MAR-VIC CAGURANGAN

The Democrats promise to “make a difference” in the prospect of becoming a stronger minority in the lower chamber of the 12th Legislature, Democratic Party president Carlos Camacho said yesterday.

Camacho also said the Democrats, who have seized six House seats in last Saturday’s polls, hope to get the lone independent Maria T. Peter into their party.

The Democratic Party’s newcomers, Brigida DLG Ichihara, Florencio T. Deleon Guerrero, Antonio Muna Camacho and incumbent Rep. Rosiky Camacho, have dislodged four Republican incumbents in District I.

District 4 Rep. Egredino Jones was reelected, while Norman S. Palacios won the District 5 seat vacated by Republican Jose A. Hocog, who ran but lost in the Tinian senatorial race.

The House of Representatives has only three democratic members. Incumbent Democrat Rep. Maximo Olopai’s reelection bid failed. The Democratic Party did not join the Saipan senatorial race.

“We could have done better,” Camacho said.

He said the reunion of Democrats gave him optimism that the party would take control of the House.

Saipan’s Democratic Party split in 1997 when former Lt. Gov. Jesus Borja formed a group to support his gubernatorial bid following the decision of then Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio to seek reelection. Borja is now the party’s legal counsel.

“We have reunited. Now, there’s only one Democratic Party, and we expected stronger support,” Camacho said. “But I guess we have to be satisfied with what the voters gave us,” Camacho said.

He said the electorate’s decision to write more Democrats in the ballot is “a message that the people want change. They’re obviously not happy with policies and with what’s going on in the government.”

Camacho said the Democrats had been ignored in the House of Representatives. Several bills and proposals introduced by Democrats in the House were shelved and forgotten altogether.

“The Republicans would just think of whatever they can bring up and deliver it to the floor because they know they have the majority,” Camacho said.

But now that they have a bigger representation in the incoming Legislature, Camacho said the Democrats “are looking forward to seeing equality in the House.”

“Proposals should be considered based on their merits and not on which party introduced them. We hope to get a fair deal, ” Camacho said.

Although they are now a stronger minority, Camacho said, the Democrats don’t intend to “make a lot of noise.”

“We’re not noisy people. Democrats are humble people,” Camacho said.

As soon as the 12th Legislature opens session in January, Camacho said the Democratic House members would immediately buckle down to work and carry out the party’s platform.