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3 GOP lawmakers to run as independents
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Posted on Jan 25 2012
House minority leader Joseph Deleon Guerrero (R-Saipan) and Rep. Ray Tebuteb (R-Saipan) separately confirmed yesterday that they will seek re-election on Nov. 6 but will run as independent candidates, while other incumbent GOP members have yet to make a decision.
“Because I don’t believe in the current Republican leadership,” Tebuteb told Saipan Tribune when asked for the reason behind his shift to being an independent candidate. He ran under the Republican banner in the last election.
Rep. Ray Yumul (R-Saipan) is eyeing a run for the Senate, also as an independent.
Long-time Republican lawmakers expressed disappointment with the governor’s selection as GOP president in November, when party bylaws were amended to allow a sitting governor to become party president and when an election of officers was held without inviting the incumbent Republicans.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial gave a Dec. 30 deadline to lawmakers he sent letters to or personally asked to join him in the GOP.
The governor rejoined the Republican Party in January 2011, 10 years after leaving it to form his own Covenant Party in 2001 to support his gubernatorial bid, which he won on his second attempt.
But while some Republicans will not be running under Fitial’s party in November, other Covenant Party members and independents will be seeking re-election under the governor’s Republican Party, including vice speaker Felicidad Ogumoro (Cov-Saipan), House floor leader George Camacho (Ind-Saipan) and Rep. Ray Basa (Cov-Saipan).
Rep. Tony Sablan (R-Saipan) and Rep. Frank Dela Cruz (R-Saipan) separately said yesterday they haven’t made a decision yet on re-election and party affiliation should they run again.
