CNMI independents & democrats sign Unity Pledge

Who is fit to lead? The Republican and Independent gubernatorial teams trade jabs in dueling press conferences this week amid the Democrats' "unity pledge" with the Palacios-Apatang team. Independents and Democrats solidified their coalition, signing a Unity Pledge agreeing on policy issues including health care, the workforce, and infrastructure.
Mayor David Apatang, the Candidate for Lt. Gov. said, "I will make sure that we follow the pledge 100%. This is for our people. We need to take our government back."
At the top of their agenda is "opening up the Commonwealth's financial books." KUAM asked Lt. Gov. Arnold Palacios, why not do that now while he is still in office with direct access? "I wish that was true but I do not. I do not have access to the financial management system as it is today. The only access I have to the financial management system is to the account of the Lt. Gov," he replied.
That revelation is a sign of the times as both parties make an aggressive push to win the run-off on November 25th. Republican candidates held a press conference of their own late Tuesday, where they discussed health and fitness to serve.
Gov. Ralph Torres shared, "My concern is I know the effort I put in. What is the community going to get for somebody who does not have the capability, the ability, or the willingness because of what has transpired in the last few years."
Palacios-Apatang responded to attacks on their health and fitness, saying, "Fit to lead. I have it here and I have it here."
Rep. Tina Sablan former democratic candidate for gov. said, "He himself is hardly a picture of fitness in any sense of that word. Not just physical fitness. Moral fitness. Intellectual fitness. Ralph Torres is unfit to lead as governor."
Sablan-Staffler says they're not seeking jobs from Palacios-Apatang if the Independents win, but rather have their focus on the vision and priorities.