Inos, Torres lead 26 GOP members in filing candidacy

Gov. Eloy S. Inos and Senate President Ralph Torres (R-Saipan) led yesterday’s filing of candidacies for 26 Republican candidates at the Commonwealth Election Commission in Susupe, less than a month before the filing deadline.

This is Inos’ first time to run for governor, over a year after his unprecedented rise to power when then-governor Benigno R. Fitial resigned on Feb. 20, 2013, in the middle of an impeachment process.

Gov. Eloy S. Inos, second from right, and Senate President Ralph Torres (R-Saipan), right, lead the filing of candidacies for 26 total Republican candidates in the November election, at almost 1pm yesterday at the Commonwealth Election Commission, in the presence of the GOP leadership, supporters, and families. Receiving the petition is CEC’s Julie Villagomez, left. (Haidee V. Eugenio)

The Inos-Torres tandem is the first among four gubernatorial teams to file for candidacy this year. There are two independents teams and one Democratic Party team vying for the highest elected post in the CNMI in the November elections.

With most of them wearing red shirts, the candidates, their families, and supporters witnessed the Republican gubernatorial team’s filing of candidacies at past 12:30pm yesterday. GOP treasurer Ed Guerrero assisted the party’s filing.

Election Commission executive director Robert Guerrero, along with Julie Villagomez and other CEC employees, received the nominating petitions and filings from the Republican candidates.

“I’m excited. Can you see the turnout here? I think we’re moving. This is going to be an exciting election,” Inos told reporters moments after the filing of candidacy. “Despite what happened to the Republican Party in the recent past, I think we’ve been able to, in many ways, put it back together.”

Inos reiterated a solutions-driven Republican team.

“What we’re presenting are solutions. We have essentially identified the problems or at least the root of the problems. …Everything that we do here, this leadership, would be about solving problems.”

Inos said a casino on Saipan is among those solutions.

“Casino is a major solution to the fiscal problem, especially the problem that’s facing the retirement fund. This is a long-term [solution]. Casino is a 40-year license. Every year is $15 million in license alone and the revenue is untold millions so it is a long-term solution,” he added.

Lt. Gov. Jude U. Hofschneider also filed his candidacy for a Senate seat. Hofschneider was Senate president in February 2013 when he ascended to become the lieutenant governor.

Attorney General Joey Patrick San Nicolas also filed his candidacy for Tinian mayor.

Most of the candidates for the House of Representatives and Senate were also at the commission yesterday.

Independent bet

Meanwhile, independent House of Representatives candidate for Precinct IV Vinzon “Vinnie” F. Sablan also filed his candidacy at the Election Commission at 12:40pm yesterday. Sablan is currently laboratory manager for the Division of Environmental Quality under the Bureau of Environment and Coastal Quality.

Sablan was surrounded by his wife Roca and children, campaign committee chair Tony Kapileo, family, friends, and supporters during the filing.