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Fitial: Tim still my running mate
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Posted on Jun 14 2008
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial says Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez will be his running mate in 2009, despite reports that Villagomez has switched to the NMI Republican Party.
“I am still running with him, and it won’t be under the Republican Party,” said Fitial, who broke away from the GOP and co-founded the Covenant Party in 2001.
Rep. Ray Yumul told the media on Thursday that Villagomez and Department of Public Safety Commissioner Clyde Norita had registered as members of the local Republican Party to support his congressional bid. Yumul has now withdrawn from the delegate race.
Villagomez has not confirmed or denied his reported move to the GOP. “My family and I have always been associated with the Republican Party … [just as] we’ve always been with the Covenant Party,” he said in a separate interview.
The lieutenant governor added that he would soon make an “announcement” about his political plans.
Meanwhile, local Republicans received Villagomez’s return to the party with enthusiasm.
Ed Tenorio, president of the NMI Republican Party, said there is nothing extraordinary about the lieutenant governor’s decision. “We have members who have run independent in the past. When we opened the registration for new members, everyone is welcome. Our focus is to make GOP a strong party,” he said.
Rep. Diego Benavente also welcomed to the party his former rival for the lieutenant governor position. “The party is always open to new members coming in. Tim has always been successful in his political career, and the party could use his contributions,” he said.
The Commonwealth will have a gubernatorial election in November 2009. Fitial has already announced that he would run. No other candidate has come out publicly about challenging Fitial’s re-election bid. Those reportedly eyeing the position include former Gov. Juan N. Babauta, Rep. Heinz Hofschneider, Villagomez, and Benavente.
