Only Inos at drawing of lots for ballot placement

Of four gubernatorial candidates, only Gov. Eloy S. Inos of the Republican Party actually showed up at the drawing of candidates’ numbers for their names’ placement on the ballot; three others only sent their representatives to the Commonwealth Election Commission yesterday morning.

Today, the Election board of directors is scheduled to certify the nearly 100 candidacies filed.

Republican lieutenant governor candidate, Senate President Ralph Torres (R-Saipan), second from right, picks a number for him and Gov. Eloy S. Inos for name placement on the ballot among four gubernatorial teams, at the Commonwealth Election Commission yesterday morning. From left, Juan I. Tenorio, representing the Independent team of former governor Juan N. Babauta and former senator Juan Torres; the governor; Torres; and businessman Juan S. Tenorio representing the independent team of former speaker Heinz S. Hofschneider and Senate floor leader Ray Yumul (Ind-Saipan). Meling Chargualaf (not shown in this photo) also picked a number for the Democratic team of Edward “Tofila” M. Deleon Guerrero and Danny Quitugua. (Haidee V. Eugenio)

Election Commission executive director Robert A. Guerrero told Saipan Tribune yesterday that it is not likely that anyone who filed for candidacy would be disqualified because everyone met the candidacy requirements.

The four gubernatorial bets for the Nov. 4 elections have never been in the same room, or location, at the same time since the election season started this year.

However, Inos and representatives of his three opponents did share light moments together, exchanging pleasantries and laughing while waiting for the number drawing to begin yesterday.

Election Commission’s Julie Villanueva led the numbers drawing.

For gubernatorial name placement on the ballot, No. 1 will be reserved for the independent team of former House speaker Heinz S. Hofschneider and Senate floor leader Ray Yumul (Ind-Saipan). Businessman Juan S. Tenorio represented the Heinz-Yumul team yesterday.

No. 2 on the ballot will be the independent gubernatorial tandem of former governor Juan N. Babauta and former senator Juan Torres. Juan I. Tenorio picked the number for them.

Inos and his running mate Senate President Ralph Torres (R-Saipan) will be No. 3 on the ballot placement. Inos, Torres, their family, supporters and other GOP members were there.

The governor later said 3 may well be a lucky number.

No. 4 on the ballot will be the Democratic Party’s gubernatorial team of Edward “Tofila” M. Deleon Guerrero and Daniel Quitugua.

Others

Of the two delegate candidates, incumbent Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan’s (Ind-MP) name will be placed No. 1 on the ballot, while former Commerce secretary Andrew Salas will be No. 2.

Retired Superior Court presiding judge Edward Manibusan will be placed on No. 1, while attorney Michael Evangelista will be No. 2.

For the Saipan senatorial seats, the candidates and placements on the ballot are as follows: 1) former speaker Oscar Babauta; 2) former representative Justo Quitugua; 3) Public School System’s Illuminada Bermudes; 4) Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Arnold Palacios; 5) attorney Steve Woodruff; 6) Jesus Taisague; and 7) Rep. Janet Maratita (Ind-Saipan).

For Saipan mayor candidates: 1) former representative David Apatang; 2) Jose Agulto Reyes; 3) Antonio Mareham; and 4) Ramon B. Camacho.

For Northern Islands mayor’s bets: 1) Vicente Santos Jr. and 2) Francisco Jerome Aldan.

Afternoon drawings

Yesterday afternoon, the Election Commission was crowded with candidates for Saipan House seats.

For Precinct 1: 1) Vince Cabrera 2) Rep. Antonio Sablan (Ind-Saipan) 3) Rep. Roman Benavente (Ind-Saipan) 4) Calixtro Reyes 5) Rep. Mario Taitano (Ind-Saipan) 6) press secretary Angel Demapan 7) Rose A. Hocog 8) John Pialur 9) Customs’ Greg Sablan 10) Frankie Angel 11) Joe Flores 12) Benjamin Cepeda 13) Rep. Richard Seman (R-Saipan) 14) Lee “Pan” Guerrero 15) Ed Propst 16) House Speaker Joseph Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan) and 17) Nelson Rios. Precinct 1 has six seats.

For the two-seat Precinct 2: 1) House floor leader Ralph Demapan (Cov-Saipan) 2) Bruce Iglecias 3) Vicente Ichihara and 4) Rep. John Paul Sablan (Cov-Saipan).

For the six-seat Precinct 3: 1) Vicente Camacho 2) BJ Attao 3) former representative Stanley Torres 4) Rep. Tony Benavente (Ind-Saipan) 5) Rep. Felicidad Ogumoro (R-Saipan) 6) Rep. Ralph Yumul (Ind-Saipan) 7) House vice speaker Frank Dela Cruz (Ind-Saipan) 8) Zoning’s Maryann Arriola 9) Rep. Ray Tebuteb (Ind-Saipan) 10) Susana Deleon Guerrero and 11) Rep. Edmund Villagomez (Cov-Saipan).

For the two-seat Precinct 4: 1) Rep. George Camacho (R-Saipan) 2) Diego Kaipat 3) Vinnie Sablan, and 4) Rep. Christopher Leon Guerrero (Cov-Saipan).

For the two-seat Precinct 5: 1) Joe Demapan 2) Francis Taimanao 3) Rep. Tony Agulto (Ind-Saipan) 4) Rep. Larry Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan), and 5) Francisco Aguon.

There’s only one Board of Education candidate for Saipan, the current chairman, Herman “Pan” Guerrero.

Rota

For Rota mayor: 1) Efraim M. Atalig 2) Rota Mayor Melchor Mendiola.

For two Rota Senate seats: 1) Tom Glen Quitugua 2) Sen. Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota) 3) Sen. Jovita Taimanao (Ind-Rota) 4) Rep. Teresita Santos (R-Rota), and 5) Steve Mesngon.

For one Rota House seat: 1) Thomas Lee A. Manglona and 2) Glenn L. Maratita.

For three Rota Municipal Council member seats: 1) Roman Calvo 2) George Hocog 3) Juan Barcinas 4) Joseph Ogo 5) Ivan Mereb and, 6) Michael Manglona.

Tinian

For Tinian mayor: 1) incumbent Tinian Mayor Ramon “Ray” Dela Cruz 2) former senator David Cing and 3) former attorney general Joey Patrick San Nicolas.

For two Tinian senatorial seats: 1) Sen. Jack Borja (Ind-Tinian) 2) Sen. Frank Cruz (R-Tinian) 3) Lt. Gov. Jude U. Hofschneider and 4) Rep. Trenton Conner (Ind-Tinian).

For one Tinian House seat: 1) Edwin Aldan and 2) Charlene Lizama.

For three Tinian Municipal Council seats: 1) Diana H. Borja 2) Edwin M. Hofschneider 3) Raynaldo M. Cing 4) Fritz M. San Nicolas 5) Estevan P. Cabrera and 6) Antonio SN. Borja.

For Board of Education candidates for Tinian: 1) Martin M. Sakisat and 2) Florine M. Hofschneider.