Shortly after the polling center closed at 7 p.m., Republicans gathered in front of their headquarters near the Little League Baseball Field where they cheered and hugged each other after learning about the preliminary results at about 9:30 p.m.
Unofficial results showed that incumbent Mayor Jose P. San Nicolas got 565 votes, while his Republican opponent, former Sen. Ramon M. Dela Cruz, garnered 696.
Republican senatorial candidates Francisco Q. Cruz and Senate Floor Leader Jude U. Hofschneider beat their Covenant opponents, Joaquin H. Borja and Sen. Joseph M. Mendiola.
The final unofficial tally: Cruz 698, Hofschneider 637, Borja 564 and Mendiola 549.
For the island’s lone House seat, Republican Trenton B. Conner defeated incumbent Covenant Rep. Edwin P. Aldan, 651 to 550.
“This is People Power!” Dela Cruz said. “Yes, we want change for the betterment of our community.”
Dela Cruz at the same time called on his supporters to reach out to the Covenant Party.
“Politics is over. Let’s hold hands together because there are bigger challenges ahead that require the support of all of us in this small community of ours,” Dela Cruz told the Variety.
He lauded the Department of Public Safety officers “for standing their ground.”
“DPS maintained law and order…despite the mayor’s attempt to muscle his way.”
Covenant Party Tinian Chairman Ray Cing congratulated the Republicans for their victory.
“They have done what they could to gather votes. Good luck to them,” he added.
For the nonpartisan municipal council elections, there were six candidates and the three winners were Patrick A. Manglona 701, Esteven P. Cabrera 675 and Joseph SN. Cruz 627.
Over 900 ballots were cast on Tinian — 867 were accepted, two were counted on Saipan, and 43 were rejected. These included 22 undervotes, 19 overvotes, one blank ballot and one exposed ballot.
The votes were counted in the Commonwealth Ports Authority office at the airport here because Tinian Elementary School did not have a generator.
