SAIPAN Mayor David M. Apatang said he is not endorsing anyone running for Saipan mayor.
In an interview on Tuesday, Apatang said his recommendation to his fellow Republicans who want to succeed him is “they need to sit down and decide among themselves what they are going to do.”
Apatang added, “I don’t want to go out and endorse anybody.”
So far, Rep. Joseph Leepan T. Guerrero is the only Republican who has announced his intention to run for Saipan mayor on the NMI Republican Party slate in the November 2022 elections.
Parole Board Chairman Ramon RB Blas Camacho, a former chairman of the Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council, has also announced his candidacy for Saipan mayor. He said he would try to get the endorsement of the NMI Democratic Party, but mostly likely, he will run as an independent candidate.
Variety was told that aside from Leepan, there might be two other Republicans who will run for Saipan mayor, but they have yet to make an official announcement.
Apatang said if there is more than one Republican candidate for mayor, they should come up with a gentleman’s agreement.
“I am not endorsing anybody,” he added. “If they are running for Saipan mayor they need to go out and work for it.”
Apatang, whose second term ends in January 2023, is constitutionally barred to seek another term.
David M. Apatang
