Big crowd at Covenant rally to kick off 2009 campaign

A crowd of well over a thousand packed the Civic Center in Susupe yesterday for the Covenant Party’s kick off rally for the 2009 campaign led by Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and his running mate Finance Secretary Eloy Inos.

Fitial, founder of the Covenant Party, said he is “encouraged” by the big crowd, but said there will be more people supporting him in the November election than the crowd present yesterday.

“The showing today is very encouraging, but we will continue to work toward the finish line. We understand that it’s not going to be easy, but we are ready to face any challenges along the way to the finish line,” Fitial told Saipan Tribune after addressing the crowd on stage.

Highlighting the kick off rally was the official presentation of Fitial and Inos as the Covenant Party’s top candidates for the Nov. 7, 2009 elections, along with the candidates on Rota and Tinian who also took part in yesterday’s festivities.

The governor said they will have a complete slate of candidates in this year’s gubernatorial polls, but the party’s candidates committee has yet to finalize the list.

Fitial and Inos called up their family members on stage and introduced them to the crowd, mostly wearing green which is the party’s official color. In his remarks, governor also recognized the service of Army Staff Sgt. Edward Barcinas.

Special assistant for administration Esther Fleming pumped up the crowd as she repeatedly chanted “Biba Covenant,” echoed by the crowd of Covenant supporters. Vicente N. Santos served as the event’s keynote speaker.

Greg Camacho, overall chairman of the Covenant Party’s executive committee, said he is “honored and proud” with the big size of the crowd at the kick off rally.

“Today is an indication that people are still confident about and trust Governor Fitial and his running mate, Eloy Inos,” Camacho said in an interview.

Alvaro Santos, chairman of the Covenant Party’s strategy committee, said they will have a full slate of candidates for this year’s election.

“I think between now and summer…I would say we will have a little over 30 candidates—from the governor down to the Board of Education members,” he said.

Santos said Tinian Mayor Jose P. San Nicolas and Rota Mayor Joseph Inos, along with other candidates from Rota and Tinian, traveled to Saipan for the kick off rally. He said the slate of candidates for the two islands is now complete.

As for the Saipan mayoralty race, Santos said there are three Covenant members who seek the position but only one of them—Candido Taman—has officially submitted his letter of intent, while the other two are still consulting with their families.

Besides the candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, and mayor, the Covenant Party also has six House candidates for Precinct 1, two for Precinct 2, six for Precinct 3, two for Precinct 4, and two for Precinct 5, according to Santos.

“And this year, it will also include two seats in the Senate, and for the Northern Islands… It’s quite an exciting election year because it covers a lot of grounds—the mayor, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Board of Education, the Municipal Council,” he said.

He said with the big turnout at the campaign rally, he is “very optimistic that we will carry through in the November election.”

“I would like to add that we’re also working with other groups, not only within the Covenant Party, but also the independents and other political parties who share the vision of this administration… The support is there and it’s very encouraging. We are very positive,” he said.

During the Nov. 1, 2003 polls, the Covenant Party won nine of 18 seats. In the 2005 elections of Nov. 5, the political party increased its position as one of the strongest parties on the islands, as its candidate for governor, Fitial won, and the party received seven of 18 seats in the House of Representatives and three of nine seats in the Senate. In the Nov. 3, 2007 polls, the party took only four of 20 House seats.

Antonette Villagomez, 32, who came all the way from Tinian to attend the kick off rally along with her family and friends, said she believes the Fitial administration will continue to work for the people, and continue to prioritize education.

Besides the speeches mostly in Chamorro, the kick off rally also consisted of food, live song performances, and other entertainment.