A GOP delegate ‘would have great advantage’

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres believes a Republican delegate representing the islands in the U.S. Congress would be a “great advantage” for the CNMI.

When sought for comments on Rep. Angel Demapan’s (R-Saipan) declaration last Oct. 4 that he intends to run for CNMI delegate in the upcoming 2018 elections, Torres said through press secretary Kevin Bautista that the CNMI governor has faith in Demapan.

“I believe in Angel, and I’ve seen him work with the other members in our Legislature so I have faith in his leadership,” said Torres. Bautista noted that the statement came from the governor himself.

“It would be a great advantage for us if we have a Republican delegate in Washington, D.C. There is a great opportunity that our concerns will be heard. It would be an advantage for me also if the delegate is a Republican because we will be on the same page and it would be easy for both of us to work on CNMI issues,” added Torres in a statement.

Majority of the seats in Congress are currently held by the Republican Party, technically making the current delegate, Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP), a member of the minority bloc that is composed of politicians that are considered independents, as well as members of the Democratic Party.

Former lawmaker Felicidad Ogumoro, who is acting president of the NMI Republican Party, said yesterday that they have already approved Demapan’s intent.

Ogumoro added that the CNMI GOP has opted to “endorse him as a candidate for the delegate position.”

Demapan told Saipan Tribune yesterday that he is grateful to receive the CNMI GOP endorsement.

“This is an affirmation of our vision for a unified leadership locally and at the national level. We believe that opportunities are greater when the Commonwealth’s voice is united and when there’s a concerted effort to ensure that our concerns are heard and addressed,” said Demapan, adding that his committee-to-elect, known as Demapan for Congress, is “ready to work alongside” the GOP to “reach out to the community and earn their confidence so that we can build upon the progress we are seeing from our Republican leadership.” 

According to Ogumoro, the CNMI GOP unanimously voted to accept Demapan’s letter of intent to run for delegate. She added that the board unanimously voted to endorse Demapan. Ogumoro said she, CNMI GOP vice president Vince Torres, secretary Glenna Reyes, and treasurer Rufin Inos attended the meeting last Thursday. Ogumoro also noted that president James Ada was off island.

In a previous interview, Sablan cited the experience he has gained in the last nine years as delegate of the CNMI as well as the “trust I have built with [both] Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate.”

Sablan noted that he remains focused on “complex issues” surrounding the CNMI such as proposed military buildup in the CNMI; keeping the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. open beyond 2019, the period when Obamacare funding runs out; making sure there are enough workers beyond 2019; extending the special food assistance program that he got enacted to law; and renewing the asylum ban that makes Chinese tourism possible.

Currently, American Samoa Delegate Amata Coleman Radewagen is the only territory representative who is a Republican.