U.S. delegate candidate Kimberlyn King-Hinds, with husband Chester Hinds and other supporters, arrives at the multi-purpose center in Susupe to cast her vote on Tuesday morning.
DOZENS of voters lined up to cast their ballots at the Governor Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe on Tuesday morning, the first day of the early voting period on Rota, Tinian and Saipan. It will end on Nov. 4. Election Day is on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Commonwealth Election Commission Executive Director Kayla Igitol told Variety that as of 2 p.m. Tuesday, 445 early votes had been cast.
As of August, the CNMI’s total number of registered voters was 18,129, including absentee voters.
Among the early voters on Tuesday was attorney Kimberlyn King-Hinds, the Republican candidate for U.S. delegate.
“I think it’s important to get people to come out and vote …. It’s not just for me …. Elections are an important part of deciding, as a community, the direction in which we are headed. If you don’t come out and make your voice heard, you’re not weighing in on the current situation,” King-Hinds said.
Asked about the announcement of Saipan Tribune’s closure, she said, “When you wake up in the morning and you see another business shutting down, one that has been really an institution in the community … the only thing that I told myself is that it doesn’t have to be this way, it shouldn’t be this way, there are better ways. And we have to all work collectively to pursue the same direction … and for me that is ensuring that everybody’s kitchen table is protected.”
She added, “I’ve known people from Saipan Tribune for a long time and their kitchen table will now be stripped away, and as a human being, that breaks my heart, politics aside. I don’t have the means to provide for every single person. As an elected official, the only thing I can do regarding policies is to ensure that opportunities are there,” King-Hinds added.
An athlete, King-Hinds jogged from her house in As Gonno to Susupe where she changed clothes before proceeding to the polling center.
“CNMI, you need to come out and let your voices be heard,” she said. “This is an important part of our democracy. You complain about a lot of things. Come out and vote and let your voices be heard. It is important for me to set the standard by coming out … literally running to the polls this morning to cast my vote. And I hope you do the same. We have seven days between now and the actual Election Day. Let’s rally each other, let’s invite our friends and family members and pull up to the polling place and let’s vote. Let’s decide where we are going to go because that is what an election is. I hope that you see what I see, and what I see is an opportunity for something better. Let’s do this CNMI, I love you!” King-Hinds said.
Rock the vote
Edwin Propst
House Floor Leader Edwin Kenneth Propst, the Democratic candidate for U.S. delegate, also encourages everyone “to get out there and rock the vote!”
“Please come out and vote,” he said. “We have early voting that made things so convenient for everyone. We have this going on all the way up to Nov. 5, which is our actual election date. So, I highly encourage everyone to get out there and rock the vote. Come out and vote from your conscience and vote for the person you believe in.”
“I am #1 on the ballot,” he added. “I am humbly asking for your vote of confidence this Nov. 5. I have been an elected representative (in Precinct 1) of the people for 10 years. I always put people first and special interests are always last. I ask all our friends, family, supporters, and everyone voting to please support Ed Propst,” he said.
The other candidates for U.S. delegate are John O. Gonzales (Independent), Liana S. Hofschneider (Independent), and James Rayphand (Independent).
Precinct1 Rep. Diego Camacho, right seated, with former Yap Lt. Gov. James Yangetmai, husband of Precinct 3 Rep. Denita Yangetmai (not in photo), and Democratic Party supporters pose for a photo on Tuesday morning.
Great things
Rep. Denita Pialur Kaipat Yangetmai, a Democrat, asked voters to support her and her party’s other candidate in Precinct 3, Rep. Vicente Camacho.
“We have been doing great things, and have done a lot — it’s just behind the scenes. We don’t really want to announce it, but you will notice … especially in Oleai (San Jose) in front of the church, the road has been fixed. It was … unfinished … but me and my partner came in and asked around who was going to finish it. We also placed trash bins at school bus shelters, and performed other community work.”
Independent House members John Paul Sablan of Precinct 2, Ralph Yumul of Precinct 3, Joel Camacho of Precinct 4, and Angelo Camacho of Precinct 5 pose for a photo with some of their supporters.
April Repeki said she supports independent House candidate Elias “Eli” Rangamar in Precinct 3.
“Coach Eli, as he is respectfully known in the community, has a very big impact on our youth and elders in sports, culture, and many aspects of the school system. I believe he is the right person to represent Precinct 3 for both the youth and our elders in the community.”
Precinct 3 has six House seats.
Coach Elias “Eli” Rangamar, in blue shirt, 2nd left, an independent House candidate in Precinct 3 with his supporters.
