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San Nicolas prevails in recount
San Nicolas leads by 9 votes as he got 2 more votes
Tinian mayor-elect Joey Patrick San Nicolas still prevailed over incumbent Tinian Mayor Ramon Ramon M. Dela Cruz, this time by nine votes, 705-696, during a recount of ballots for the Tinian mayoral race at a packed Tinian Superior Court.
Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja, who presided over the recount, will hold a motions hearing today, Tuesday, at 1:30pm, at the Saipan Superior Court.
Naraja will hold an evidentiary hearing tomorrow, Wednesday, at 9am, at the Tinian Superior Court.
Saipan Tribune learned that three tabulating machines were used during the recount process that started after 9am and ended about 6:30pm.
Naraja confirmed that the recount showed that San Nicolas got 705 votes, Dela Cruz received 696 and David Cing garnered 47.
This means that San Nicolas picked up two more votes after the recount.
San Nicolas of the Republican Party won by seven votes, 703-696, over Dela Cruz (Independent) during the first counting of votes that CEC has already certified.
“It’s just a long process,” attorney Viola Alepuyo said when asked why the recounting took many hours.
Alepuyo, on behalf of San Nicolas, said this recount will inspire confidence in the election process.
“The CEC and staff worked hard and diligently to ensure a clean and transparent election. I thank them and the people of Tinian for their vote of confidence,” San Nicolas said.
Saipan Tribune tried to obtain comments from Dela Cruz through his counsel but there was no reply as of press time. Dela Cruz appeared with his counsel, Mark Hanson. San Nicolas appeared with counsel, Matthew Gregory and Alepuyo.
The entire Commonwealth Election Commission board, CEC counsel and Chief Prosecutor Brian Flaherty, executive director Robert A. Guerrero, and staff were present. Police officers and CNMI court marshals as well as Office of the Public Auditor staff were also present. A lot of Tinian residents also witnessed the recounting process.
In his lawsuit, Dela Cruz alleged several irregularities during the Nov. 4 election, including a discrepancy between the votes cast for Tinian mayor tabulated on Tinian and the tabulation on Saipan of the votes physically cast on Tinian for Tinian mayor. CEC denied the allegations.
