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Lawmaker backs GOP primary
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Posted on Oct 15 2004
Republican congressman Benjamin Seman said he is inclined to favor the holding of a primary due to the presence of “more than one candidates.”
“I do respect the incumbent,” he said in an interview. “But we should also think of the others. I think that if there are more than one candidates, there should be a primary.”
Seman noted, though, that a primary should be limited only to members of the party.
“If there’s going to be a primary, make it closed and limited to Republicans,” he said, noting that it may be taken advantage by supporters of other parties who could join in and vote for “a weaker GOP candidate.”
Seman suggested that the GOP hold a registration of members to determine the eligible voters in a primary.
“We should not open it to everybody. Only the members should decide who would be their candidates,” he said.
Gov. Juan N. Babauta recently declared that he and Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente would seek reelection in next year’s polls.
Despite that, Sen. Pete Reyes, a Republican, said that the party should have a primary “to adhere to the democratic system of government and allow others to run for the gubernatorial post.”
For instance, he said that Rep. Heinz Hofschneider, who is eyeing the governorship, should be given an opportunity to challenge the governor in the primary.
Hofschneider himself said a primary must be held to determine the Republican Party’s official gubernatorial candidate next year.
“It’s good for the electorate to have choices,” said Hofschneider.
Meantime, Babauta’s public announcement of his intent to seek reelection came days after the national Republican Party recognized the local GOP as its CNMI chapter.
