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JNB: We still have a good chance
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Posted on Nov 08 2005
A KMVC report aired last night quoted Gov. Juan N. Babauta that he is not optimistic about the results of the absentee ballots, but the official denied this in a separate interview with the Saipan Tribune, saying that he is not conceding anything.
Babauta said last night that he remains hopeful that he would get “a good number” of votes from the over 1,600 absentee ballots.
“This waiting period…is very stressful but I’m not conceding. I think I have a good chance,” said Babauta.
Republican Party chair John S. Reyes issued a similar statement.
“It’s premature,” he said, noting that the Election Commission has yet to count the absentee ballots on Nov. 19.
The KMCV report, as filed by reporter Theo Wong, quoted the governor as saying in an unrecorded interview that he may just pursue further studies or teach.
Covenant Party’s Benigno Fitial couldn’t be reached for an interview regarding the KMCV report but his spokesman, Charles Reyes, Jr., said Babauta’s interest in teaching again is “commendable.”
“If you look at the precincts of absentee voters, we can confidently expect Fitial to maintain his lead [in the gubernatorial race],” Reyes said.
“Once the election is over, politics should end. All elected residents should work together for a common goal to work for the interest of the CNMI and its residents,” he added.
GOP chair John S. Reyes said, though, that the party hopes to get a good number of votes from overseas, citing that the governor had been able to meet with the CNMI residents in Hawaii and Benavente had met with residents in Idaho, Washington, and California.
John S. Reyes said that if the party is convinced that the votes are not favorable, then it would respect the people’s decision.
Both Babauta and the Benavente and other GOP candidates and leaders had also visited CNMI residents in Guam.
“I think we did pretty good,” Reyes said.
In the 2001 general elections, Babauta, who had won the gubernatorial seat by a landslide, cornered 50 percent of the absentee votes.
Absentee votes at that time totaled nearly 700.
This year, the total number of ballots sent out was 1,602. (Liberty Dones, John Ravelo, and Jayvee Vallejera)
