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Benavente has mixed emotions on elections
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Posted on Nov 12 2005
Will he still be the CNMI’s lieutenant governor for the next four years? This question, Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente reveals, comes to him often as three gubernatorial tandems all look forward to getting the highest vote tally from absentee voters on Nov. 19.
“We hope for the best, but yes, I think about the possibility of not being the lieutenant governor anymore. I have mixed feelings,” said Benavente in an interview Friday.
“Whatever the result. I’m grateful that I have been so blessed and fortunate for the privilege to serve. I’ve spent 16 years of my life in public service,” he added.
Benavente began his public service career in 1990 when he ran and won a House seat representing Precinct 2.
He got re-elected for six consecutive terms as congressman, ending in 2002.
During his 12 years in the House Representatives, Benavente served as speaker three times.
He got elected as lieutenant governor, together with Gov. Juan N. Babauta, in the 2001 general elections.
On Nov. 19, it will be determined if the Babauta-Benavente ticket will remain in office for another four years, or until 2010.
Right now, the BB tandem under the Republican Party ranks third with 3,228 votes.
Leading the race is the Covenant Party’s Benigno R. Fitial and Tim P. Villagomez with 3,497 votes, followed by independent gubernatorial candidate Heinz S. Hofschneider and David Apatang with 3,371 votes.
Democratic Party’s Froilan C. Tenorio and Antonio Santos, who garnered 2,256 votes, have already accepted defeat in the election.
The top three gubernatorial tickets are all hoping that absentee votes would go in their favor.
There are 1,602 ballots that were sent out for off-island voters.
Meantime, Benavente’s partner, Babauta, said earlier that he remains hopeful that the ticket would get a favorable number of votes from overseas.
He said the waiting period is very stressful but “I think [we] have a good chance.”
