They were also very disappointed about the amendment of party by-laws and the election of Gov. Benigno R. Fitial as party president, all of which transpired without the nod of the general membership.
Deleon Guerrero said the governor’s affiliation with the NMI Republican Party did not strengthen the GOP, but “turned away its grassroots support.”
“He basically killed the party by joining it,” he said.
Deleon Guerrero wonders, “Did [Fitial] really bring in new [members] or did he chase out more?”
He also wonders how many members attended the meeting and “unanimously” elected the governor as party president.
He said if the majority of party members were at the meeting, it was unlikely that they would have voted for Fitial.
The saddest part of it, he added, is that the governor shattered not only the Republican Party by joining it, but also the Covenant Party by abandoning it.
A long-time GOP leader, Fitial bolted the party in 2001 and founded the Covenant Party which nominated him as its gubernatorial candidate in the 2001, 2005 and 2009 elections.
Early this year, Fitial rejoined the GOP.
Deleon Guerrero said he will continue to serve as a Republican and represent his constituents the best way he can, but for next year’s elections, “I don’t know. Maybe I will run as independent.”
Rep. Joseph M. Palacios, R-Saipan, said it’s sad that the party officials amended the by-laws without informing incumbent Republicans about it.
“We were just here every day. They could have told us about the meeting. No one called me and that’s why I’m wondering now if I am ousted from the party,” he said.
According to Palacios, who along with follow Saipan Republican Speaker Eli D. Cabrera aligned himself with the Covenant-led House majority bloc, if the governor feels he is a lifetime Republican, “I respect that.”
But like many veteran Republican lawmakers, Palacios does not believe that an elected official can serve as party president.
Palacios said he cannot blame the governor for being elected party president. He just wonders who coordinated the meeting and “what really is the motive?”
He said he may not seek reelection next year.
He said he ran for office to make a difference but now he sees that only one person seems to control everything.
Senate Vice President Jude U. Hofschneider, R-Tinian, was at the meeting and said he noticed that after the governor was nominated for party president, “somebody immediately closed the nomination.”
He attended the meeting as a loyal Republican member. It was a show of support to the party and not to any individual, he added.
Other disgruntled party members who requested anonymity told Variety that many of them will rally behind Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos in the 2014 gubernatorial election.
Unlike Fitial, Inos has remained with the Covenant Party.
