Manglona’s running mate on Rota is Felix Santos

Senate President Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota) introduced yesterday his running mate, former Department of Public Safety-Rota resident director Felix Mundo Santos.

Santos, an independent, declared his candidacy for House of Representatives member for Rota.

“I run for the people of Rota. I hate seeing the people of Rota being neglected. One big issue is that the current congresswoman from Rota, who is associated with the governor, didn’t prevent the governor from cutting Rota’s budget for 2013,” Santos told Saipan Tribune in an interview yesterday afternoon.

Felix Santos is the first cousin of incumbent Rep. Teresita Santos (Ind-Rota), who is running with Victor Hocog opposite Manglona in the Rota senatorial race.

Teresita Santos and Hocog are running under Gov. Benigno R. Fitial’s Republican Party. Fitial and Manglona have been engaged in a word war since the governor described Rota and Tinian senators “stupid” for rejecting a House bill legalizing casino gaming on Saipan.

Since then, Fitial as GOP chairman has taken a more active role in endorsing Hocog and Teresita Santos’s campaign on Rota.

Felix Santos, who worked for 22 years with DPS-Rota, also said he has a professional background that places prime importance on “teamwork.”

“I am an expert in teamwork, which will only have good results. The congresswoman is not working with the Rota mayor,” the father of four said.

In a separate statement, Felix Santos said that Teresita Santos has “failed the people of Rota” and that in the three years the lawmaker has been in office, she was “nonperforming,” particularly her “failure to support the goals and objectives of Rota Mayor Melchor Mendiola and the Rota Legislative Delegation.”

He also took a swipe at what he describes as the House member’s flip-flopping stance, criticizing her decision to support Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, who just recently recommended the slashing of the municipality’s annual budget for the new fiscal year.

“Where is Terry [Santos] here when the governor recommended a budget cut for Rota? If she is fighting for us, she should not succumbed to the governor’s desire to take away the money that the people of Rota rightly deserves,” Santos said.

Rep. Santos is running with Victor Hocog, who in the 2007 mid-term elections defeated the former DPS resident director by a small margin for the House race. Hocog, on the other hand, is challenging Manglona for the Senate seat. Hocog lost heavily to Melchor Mendiola in the mayoral race in the last general elections.

“I am ready to stand up for the people of Rota,” Santos said, touting a “vision that can help revive the economy, mainly help address issues surrounding the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. and the rising fuel prices.”

“In my own humble ways, I am ready to collaborate and partner to help ease the difficulties that both the people of Rota and this Commonwealth are now facing,” Santos said.

Senate President Manglona, the Commonwealth’s longest serving legislator, said the reason why he teamed up with Santos was his “extensive background in government service.”

Santos worked for the CNMI government for more than 20 years, rising from the ranks: as a firefighter, he rose to become Rota’s fire captain and until his appointment as DPS resident director in 2009 which he served for two years until his retirement last year.

“This is not the first time that Felix has offered himself for the people of Rota, all for public service. Because of his immense contribution and community involvement, I did not hesitate to reach out to him which he graciously accepted,” reveals Manglona.

“Teamwork,” adds Santos, is vital for island communities like Rota, Tinian, and Saipan, that lawmakers should work together. “What we have in Terry Santos is her lack of commitment, collaboration, and partnership to work with all stakeholders.”