Cing’s supposed opponent in the primary, Saipan Sen. Luis P. Crisostimo, failed to pay the $2,500 registration fee.
Crisostimo, however, said he will still be a candidate, adding that he is affiliated with the national Democratic Party.
“It hurts me very much that this is happening. I’ve helped the party but it seems to me that the party doesn’t really want to unite us,” the senator told Variety in a phone interview.
He said he has no problem running as an Independent candidate but feels that he should be their party’s official candidate.
“I think I’m entitled to run under the Democratic Party (even if they have chosen Cing) because I am the only one affiliated with the national Democratic Party. I would ask for its endorsement. I have direct communication with the [national Democratic] chairman,” he added.
The senator said he would have paid the registration fee but the fundraising period hasn’t officially begun.
In the 2007 elections, Crisostimo ran and won as an Independent candidate despite the Democratic Party’s refusal to endorse him.
Crisostimo said the local party is not using the “Democratic trademark properly.”
He added, “The local party is worthless if it’s not affiliated with the national party.”
Local Democratic Party Chairman Manuel Sablan said they required Cing and Crisostimo to pay a registration fee of $2,500 each for the primary on July 27.
He said he notified both candidates to pay the fee on or before July 15 but only Cing complied.
“So no more primary. Crisostimo defaulted. He didn’t pay the $2,500 registration fee,” Sablan said.
He said Cing will file his candidacy anytime now.
“He has a very good chance — the party is backing him up,” Sablan said.
Crisostimo said he will file his candidacy before the month is over.
Aug. 6 is the deadline set by the Commonwealth Election Commission for the filing of candidacies.
Besides Cing and Crisostimo, the other candidates for the delegate election are Washington Rep. Pete A. Tenorio, former Judge Juan T. Lizama, former Election Commission Executive Director Gregorio C. Sablan, Department of Public Lands official John DLR. Gonzales, and Saipan municipal council member Felipe Q. Atalig.
Tenorio is the GOP candidate while the others are running as Independents.
