Democrats set convention date; party endorses Kilili re-election

In meetings on July 10 and 28, 2018, the central executive committee of the Democratic Party of the Northern Marianas, Inc. approved plans for the 2018 Democratic Party Convention and general membership meeting to be held on Aug. 4, 2018.

The CEC also unanimously endorsed the re-election of incumbent Delegate Gregorio Camacho Kilili C. Sablan, who caucuses with Democrats in Congress.

The party said that Sablan had a major role in obtaining national Democratic Party recognition for the local party, and national Democrats honored him with a speaking slot on the floor of the 2016 Democratic National Convention, which nominated Hillary Rodham Clinton as the first woman to be nominated for the office of President of the United States by a major party.

It said that Sablan was an early supporter of Clinton’s bid for the U.S. presidency.

The Democratic Party of the Northern Marianas, Inc. Convention will be held in the Fiesta Room of the Grandvrio Resort in Garapan on Aug. 4, 2018. Registration will open at 7am and the opening gavel is scheduled for 8am. NMI Democrats are arranging prominent speakers, will elect central executive committee members to lead the party through 2019 and 2020, endorse candidates, and adopt their platform. The newly elected central executive committee will elect party officers, including chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer.

Speakers will include the first governor of the CNMI, Carlos S. Camacho; former Supreme Court justice and lieutenant governor Jesus C. Borja, governor and lieutenant governor candidates Juan N. Babauta and Dr. Rita A. Sablan, Senate candidate Heinz Hofschneider, Rep. Edwin K. Propst, former representative Tina Sablan, Democrat House candidates Glenn Manglona (Precinct 1) and Peter Muña (Precinct 5), House candidate Samantha Birmingham-Babauta (Precinct 1), former Democratic senator from Tinian David A. Cing, and, via video, Guam Democrat gubernatorial candidates Lou Leon Guerrero and Josh Tenorio.

NMI Democrats are also arranging the participation at the convention of independent candidates supporting the Babauta-Sablan gubernatorial ticket. The convention will include a dance performance by Studio 29:11.

There is no admission charge for the convention. Light refreshments will be provided in the morning and at lunchtime. Register and receive convention credentials with full voting privileges at www.2018nmiDems.com. Registration at the door will also be possible throughout the day, but pre-registration is recommended. (PR)