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CREAM endorses Kilili Sablan
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Posted on Oct 23 2008
An organization made up of mostly Filipino-Americans in the Commonwealth yesterday announced its endorsement of Gregorio “Kilili” Sablan for congressional delegate.
The Coalition for Recognition, Equality and Advancement of American Ethnic Minorities, or CREAM, says the group is impressed with Sablan’s sincere stance and his focus on the economy.
CREAM claims to have 1,200 members who are registered to vote on Nov. 4, when the CNMI will elect its first-ever delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. CREAM’s membership represents about 10 percent of the voters that will decide the historic election.
Sablan in an interview said he is “very happy” to gain CREAM’s support. “I recognize them for taking an active part in this year’s election and for their many contributions to our islands. I’m very pleased with their decision and I welcome their endorsement,” he said.
Before making the endorsement, CREAM held a mock election within the group and invited to four top vote getters to a question-and-answer session. The candidates invited were John Oliver Gonzales, Pete A. Tenorio, Juan T. Lizama, and Sablan. Of the four, only Sablan showed up.
CREAM president Gus Loste said Sablan offered satisfactory responses to the questions asked him during the forum. “He didn’t make any inflated promises. His answers were realistic, and not intended just to make people feel better,” Loste said.
But while CREAM values Sablan’s attendance, it is not the sole basis for the group’s decision to endorse the candidate, Loste maintained. He said the group took another vote, and an overwhelming majority supported Sablan.
Most of the members of the coalition are Filipino-Americans and registered voters in the Northern Marianas. The group also includes people of other nationalities who have U.S. citizen children that are registered voters in the Commonwealth.
Loste said the group believes that the non-indigenous electors, if organized, can make a difference in future CNMI elections.
