|
Fitial/Villagomez claim victory in CNMI election
It may have taken an extra two weeks to decide the outcome of the gubernatorial election for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, but the results are officially in. Three of the top hopefuls vying for the CNMI governship waited on baited breath for a total of two weeks until the more than 1,200 absentee ballots were officially counted.
In the end, the Covenant Party team of Benigno Fitial and Timothy Villagomez officially claimed victory just past 6pm on Saturday, finishing with 3,809 of the total votes (28%). Representatives Heinz Hofschneider and David Apatang followed close behind with 3,710 of the total votes (27%). Current governor Juan Nekai Babauta and Lieutenant Governor Diego Benavente received 382 absentee votes. And although they garnered the majority of off-island votes it still wasn't enough to put them in front of Fitial or Hofschneider. In the end, the Republican incumbents finished with 3,610 votes (26%).
The results were so close for the race that they were behind the Fitial-Villagomez camp by only 199 votes and behind the Hofschneider-Apatang team by merely 100 votes. Democratic Party candidates, former governor Froilan Tenorio and Antonio Santos, who had conceded to opponents days after the election, picked up 186 absentee votes. This brought the Democrats' total votes to 2442 (17%).
The list of Senate and House of Representative picks were also finalized. The Covenant Party came out on top in the mayoral race as well, with Juan Tudela as mayor of Saipan, Jose San Nicolas as mayor of Tinian and Joseph Inos and mayor of Rota. Independent Party pick Valintin Taisakan won the mayoral slot for the northern islands.
According to local media reports, as the new governor Fitial promises to focus on the economy, explaining a vibrant economy entails the provision of better education and public services to the commonwealth people. When asked about his first accomplishments as governor, Fitial stated he would meet with existing businesspeople to ask them to work with his administration to help them continue to do business in the CNMI.
He also said he would meet with potential investors from Japan, Hong Kong and Korea to invite them to do business in the CNMI.
|