Ex-independent bets join GOP slate

Several former independent candidates have joined the NMI Republican Party slate for this November election, citing various reasons why they again hope to serve the people of the Commonwealth under the GOP ticket. The entire GOP ticket filed their candidacies yesterday morning.

One of those ex-independent candidates is Sen. Justo S. Quitugua, who was a member of the Democratic Party of the Northern Mariana Islands Inc. when he was in the House and chose to ran as an independent in the 2014 elections.

Quitugua then won one of the two senatorial seats at stake for Saipan, elected along with Senate President Arnold I. Palacios, who is now running for lieutenant governor with incumbent Gov. Ralph DLG Torres.

Quitugua said he weighed all his options before finally choosing to join the local GOP. “It is something that I decided with my family. That perhaps, joining a political party would be more advantageous in terms of doing more public service for the people.”

“In the 19th and 20th Legislature, I’ve worked very well with the other elected officials and in the Senate, including the GOP. That’s when I decided that, since we forged these good working relationships, it’s time to join the party,” he added.

For Rep. BJ Attao, it was his intention to honor the word that he gave his father that he’s going to seek re-election under the GOP banner. His father, Jesus T. Attao, was a Republican stalwart since getting elected and served for 16 years in the CNMI Legislature.

“As soon as I got back from my Dad’s medical treatment, I have to honor my word that I gave him that I would seek re-election under the GOP. I’ve worked with the administration even as a member of the minority in the House,” said Attao.

“It has always been an open-door policy between [Gov. Torres] and me, not just in the political arena. We’ve known each other way when we were kids. The working relationship and friendship that we built is an important thing,” he added.

Attao vowed that he would be working for everyone—“looking at the whole CNMI as a family and working…in providing for the best for everyone, whether an independent or Republican or whatever party.”

Former representative Ralph N. Yumul said he has always been a GOP member at heart, even as a member of the independent bloc in previous legislatures. “When I first ran, I ran under independent-GOP. From then on, we went our separate ways, but I always voted along the lines of the administration because my beliefs have always been Republican from the beginning.”

Yumul finished seventh out of the six seats for Precinct 3 in the 2016 elections, losing his re-election bid for the 20th Legislature to Joe Itibus by 39 votes. Now, he has moved forward and glad that the local GOP accepted his candidacy to run again.

Yumul said the Legislature needs someone who knows about business, especially with the CNMI economy improving. “I’m going to go ahead and continue what I’ve done in the past and that’s to promote a pro-business climate in the CNMI.”

“That’s what we’re lacking in the House. We don’t have a business-savvy person that would come in and be for the businesses in the CNMI, especially with the economic growth that we’re experiencing,” Yumul added.

It’s a reunion of sorts for Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang as he returned to the same party that helped him win a House seat in the past. He ran as an independent in 2014 after the GOP’s slate was already complete back then.

“I ran as an independent because when I came back, the GOP’s slate was already full. I came back two months before the election but I’ve always been a Republican since the beginning and my heart’s with the GOP.”

He said the timing is right for him to return to the GOP’s fold. “That’s why we want to encourage the people to support the party and its candidates. The time is perfect, with a hardworking administration and the progress that’s been happening.”

“We’ve got a good working relationship with the administration, Legislature, and the municipality. Pretty much, we get what we ask for. We plan to continue working together for our people,” added Apatang, who defeated RB Camacho in 2014.