Poll results to impact businesses’ direction

The local business community is eagerly awaiting the final result of the 2005 gubernatorial race as the outcome would greatly impact the sector’s direction in the next four years, said Saipan Chamber of Commerce vice president Alex Sablan.

Sablan, in an interview yesterday, said that, while the waiting period for the absentee ballots has no known negative effect on businesses, its outcome is greatly anticipated.

“We continue to do business as usual but when we finally know who the winner is, it will change the landscape. We hope that whoever wins will lead us in the right direction,” said Sablan, adding, “We are at a pivotal time in our economy.” He said the government needs to continue to develop a diversified economy in the CNMI.

Meantime, Sablan said that despite the close fight for the highest post stemming from having “more than two candidates,” he does not believe that there should be a two-party system in the CNMI.

“You can’t have a two-party system in a democracy,” he said.

Four gubernatorial candidates: Republican Party’s Juan N. Babauta, Democratic Party’s Froilan C. Tenorio, Covenant Party’s Benigno R. Fitial, and independent Heinz S. Hofschneider slugged it out in the Nov. 5 elections.

They placed very close to each other and none of them received even at least 30 percent of the votes cast.

Initial results showed Fitial leading with 3,497 votes or 28 percent, Hofschneider with 3,371 or 27 percent, Babauta with 3,228 or 26 percent, and Tenorio with 2,256 or 18 percent.

Based on these results, the next governor would only get a plurality vote, not a majority, which requires over 6,000 votes.

Current issues and history instructor Sam McPhetres said yesterday that the CNMI has no laws addressing important election-related issues.

“There is no law allowing for runoff elections. There’s no law addressing a situation where there’s a tie, and the like,” said McPhetres.

He earlier said that the Legislature should have passed a bill calling for the runoff election to ensure that the governor has the majority vote.

As it is, this year’s gubernatorial election will largely be decided by the absentee ballots, which are to be tabulated on Nov. 19. There were 1,602 ballots sent to overseas voters.