Inos shows up at Kilili candidacy filing

Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP), the CNMI’s first and so far only delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, filed his petition yesterday as a candidate for the same post he first won in 2008 and later in 2010 and 2012. Gov. Eloy S. Inos also showed up minutes later to show his support for Sablan.

Sablan filed for his fourth congressional term with his wife Andrea, family, and supporters by his side.

Gov. Eloy S. Inos, right, shakes hands with Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP), left, after Sablan filed his petition yesterday as a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives for the fourth time. Also in the photo is Saipan senatorial candidate Oscar M. Babauta, center, outside the Commonwealth Election Commission in Susupe. (Haidee V. Eugenio)

“I can never say it enough that I am truly humbled by the trust that the people have given me to serve them in Congress. The only thing that I will promise them is I will work hard, and that no one in Washington, D.C. cares more about the people of the Northern Marianas than I do,” Sablan told reporters during his filing at the Commonwealth Election Commission in Susupe.

Sablan is an independent, but caucuses with the Democrats in Congress. He also works well with Republicans.

Among the mix of supporters that accompanied Sablan yesterday were U.S. citizen children of foreign workers.

Minutes after the filing, the governor arrived, saying he was there to show support for the delegate, with whom he has established a good working relationship.

“I do support Kilili’s candidacy. I think he’s doing great in Washington, D.C. Not everybody is in agreement with the issues but I think overall he’s done [well]. What he’s accomplished is really quite amazing. I have no qualms with that,” the governor said, adding that “we still have some unfinished business.”

Among the time-sensitive bills pending in Congress is Sablan’s H.R. 4296, which will extend the CNMI’s exemption from accepting asylum applicants beyond 2014.

Sablan and Inos hope that the bill will be signed into law before the end of the year because the measure also extends beyond 2014 the CNMI-only E2-C investor visa program and the CNMI-only foreign worker program that was already extended administratively.

The same bill also extends Guam and the CNMI’s exemption from the national H visa cap, critical to the workforce needed for the upcoming military buildup in the region.

In a later statement from the Kilili campaign team, Sablan said six years after the people elected him to represent them in Congress, they can point to accomplishments such as ownership of the CNMI’s submerged lands, more equitable food assistance for needy families, improved federal funding for schools and students, and 24/7 water for Saipan homes 95 percent of the time, among other things.

He also pointed to achieving leadership posts in Congress, including as the head of Democrats on the subcommittee responsible for the nation’s fishery, wildlife, and oceans policies as well as all insular affairs.

“We may have the smallest population of any U.S. jurisdiction, but that does not mean that we have to have a small role in governing our nation,” he said.

‘Make it public’

Sablan reiterated his call for members of the CNMI Legislature to introduce a bill that would make CNMI elected officials’ statement of financial interest readily available to the public, just like what over 30,000 federal officials do under the law.

He said if these over 30,000 federal officials, including himself, could release their financial records to the public, “then there must be no constitutional issues” or privacy concerns.

“All the Legislature needs to do is pass a bill that says their financial information and the financial information of [other] Commonwealth government officials should be made available for public inspection. I’m encouraging our Legislature to consider doing that, unless they’re keeping something secret,” Sablan added.

Office of the Public Auditor records show that nearly 21 percent or 70 of 334 CNMI government officials required to file a statement of financial interest for calendar year 2013 continue to fail to file such statement. They continue to accrue a $10 daily penalty since the May 31 deadline.

Other GOP bets

Meanwhile, the governor said he was also at the Election Commission to show support to seven Republican candidates who were filing their candidacies yesterday. This brings to 27 the total number of GOP candidates for the November elections, chair Edward C. Deleon Guerrero said.

Among the Republicans that filed their candidacies yesterday were Francisco Jerome K. Aldan for Northern Islands mayor, and Francisco Aguon as the second candidate for a House seat representing Precinct 5.

The whole Republican slate for Rota also filed their candidacies: Efren Atalig for Rota mayor; incumbent Rep. Teresita Santos (R-Rota) for senator; Steven Mesngon for senator; and Glen Maratita for House seat.

Charlene Lizama also filed her candidacy for a Tinian House seat, with Lt. Gov. Jude U Hofschneider showing his support.

Most of the GOP candidates filed their petitions on July 10, including Inos and his running mate Senate President Ralph Torres (R-Saipan).

AG candidate

Michael Evangelista also filed his candidacy yesterday afternoon for the attorney general position. This will be the first time that CNMI voters will elect their AG. He was also accompanied by his family and supporters.

Last week, another AG candidate also filed his candidacy, retired Superior Court presiding judge Edward Manibusan.