The two Republican candidates, however, garnered 53.9 percent of the total votes cast (7,266). The winner, who is now the governor, received 27.9 percent (3,766), and beat Heinz by 84 votes.
Last week, the GOP held its first gubernatorial primary since 2000. Privately, party leaders told me that if the turnout was 50 percent it would be considered “good.” Some were expecting 40 percent. The ruling Covenant Party had earlier announced that its members should not participate in the open primary. This, of course, was considered a warning to contractual government employees and other political appointees. The ruling party had to backpedal twice just to “clarify” its “advisory,” but I think everyone got the message.
The turnout last Saturday was a respectable 58 percent.
Previously, there were only two GOP primaries held when the incumbent governor was not a Republican: in 1981 and 1996. I’ve checked our old files and didn’t come across a news story about the then-ruling Democratic Party “advising” its members not to participate in the GOP primary. Incidentally, the winner of both primaries was Teno, who clinched victory in the general elections.
Teno also won the 1985 primary as incumbent governor. Four years later, Larry Guerrero, who lost to Teno in ’85, defeated then-Lt. Gov. Pete A. in the primary and beat Froilan in the general elections. (Who won the first Republican primary? Joeten in 1977 when the GOP was still known as the Territorial Party. In the general elections, Joeten lost by 122 votes to his Democratic rival, Dr. Charlie Camacho.)
In 1993, the GOP held its primary on May 29. Governor Guerrero and Lt. Gov. Benjamin T. Manglona squared off with Washington Rep. John Babauta and Speaker Kiyu Villagomez. It wasn’t exactly a beauty contest. The John-Kiyu team reminded the electorate about the need to restore trust and confidence in government. The Wash. rep. and the governor, moreover, publicly disagreed about what the CNMI should do to address mounting concerns in Washington, D.C. regarding local labor and immigration policies.
The turnout on Saipan was 57 percent with Babauta garnering 2,080 votes and Guerrero receiving 2,073. On Tinian, where the turnout was only 44.6 percent, Guerrero got 150; Babauta, 124. It was Rota that clinched the election for the incumbent whose running mate was a native son. Prior to the primary, Lt. Governor Manglona’s wife died. On primary day, the turnout on Rota was 72 percent — 702 voted for Guerrero-Manglona; only 68 for Babauta-Villagomez. The GM team received a total of 2,987, while BV got 2,322. A 665-vote margin. The third candidate, Senate President John Demapan, had 849 votes. The GOP, under Chairman Ben Fitial, allowed Demapan, a freshman senator, to run in the primary even though he had no running mate. Rumors abounded. The GOP also kicked out two of its lawmakers from the party, Heinz and Stanley, and had to run against a, for once, united Democratic Party in Nov. 1993. This time, Froilan easily defeated Larry. One of the issues against the incumbent was the unholy mess at CUC whose executive director was Kumoi, Larry’s most trusted adviser. Froilan’s campaign manager was his cousin, former Senator Juanpan.
To avoid the post-primary bitterness of 1993, the GOP decided to hold its primary a year before the 1997 elections. In the fall of 1996, Teno-Pepero faced Larry and running mate Rita H. Inos in the GOP primary. More than six years after leaving office, Teno was still at the height of his popularity. His nephew, Froilan, had already announced that he would not seek re-election. The turnout for the GOP primary was an amazing 76 percent with Teno-Pepero garnering 56 percent of the votes cast. Froilan later changed his mind about not running, which split the Democratic Party. Larry and Pete A. endorsed Froilan. The GOP still won in Nov. 1997.
Three years later, the GOP decided to again hold a primary a year before the elections. Teno didn’t want four more years. His lt. governor, Pepero, chose Sen. Kiyu Villagomez as running mate. Their opponents were Babauta and Speaker Diego T. Benavente.
The primary was a beauty contest. But this newspaper, in one editorial after another, reminded voters that the choice was clear: continuity or change. The turnout was 65 percent. BB garnered 56.5 percent of the votes. Kiyu blamed the Variety for his team’s loss, but was gentleman (or astute) enough to publicly endorse the BB team. In the Nov. 2001 elections, the GOP buried the new Covenant Party of Speaker Fitial in a landslide.
Last Saturday’s primary was a real beauty contest. The supporters of the rival teams were sniping at each other but not publicly. Heinz-Arnold and Juan-Galvin signed a unity pledge. After the votes were counted, the winning candidates did something incredible and probably unprecedented. They went over to the camp of their opponents whose graciousness in defeat was admirable.
Former Governor Babauta sought his party’s nomination because he wanted redemption. He knew he could have done way better as chief executive. In the past few months, he had humbly tried to win back the people’s support. He may have lost (narrowly, I should point out) last Saturday, but his concession speech reminded the public what they had admired about him.
So now Heinz is the official candidate of a party that is united once again.
What about Kumoi, you ask. I think he’s out there to help ensure that no candidate will get 50 percent plus one on Election Day. Now ask yourself: Who among the candidates would like another chance in a runoff?
Exactly.
This November, the choice for the CNMI, once again, is crystal. Change or continuity. This time, however, there are two status quo candidates, and you know who they are.
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