FORMER Governors Juan N. Babauta and Benigno R. Fitial said NMI Republicans should remember “the core values of true and conservative Republicans.”
In separate interviews, the former governors said they don’t believe that Republican Gov. Ralph DLG Torres is true to the core principles of “a real Republican.”
The former governors said they support the independent candidacies of former Republicans Arnold I. Palacios and running mate David M. Apatang who “never abandoned the core values of a true Republican.”
Palacios was Torres’s running mate in the 2018 election. This year, however, Torres is running with Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan.
Babauta said “the U.S. is largely founded on Judeo-Christian values. That there is God of higher power providing guidance for a just society. The U.S. Constitution, a document crafted by learned individuals of vast experience, wisdom and knowledge, should be revered as the law of the land as written, approved by the people thus, modification of it should only be made through the collective wisdom of the people.”
He added, “The founding fathers didn’t care much for royalty, totalitarianism or monarchical governments. That is why the power for fundamental change rests with the people. We build a just society through hard work by earning your keep. A total handout leads to a decadent society.”
He said, “Those who seek to serve, these should be the values to be pursued, not self-enrichment. You seek public office in commitment to those values.”
For his part, Fitial, who declared himself a conservative Republican, said: “In order to restore honesty, integrity and morality in our government, we must elect more faith-driven leaders. That is very important, because that is the essence of Republican values.”
Babauta was elected governor in 2001 on the Republican ticket. He lost to Fitial, who founded the Covenant Party, in the 2005 election.
Fitial rejoined the Republican Party in 2011. In 2013, he was impeached by the House of Representatives, but he resigned before the Senate could hold a trial. Babauta, for his part, unsuccessfully ran for governor as an Independent candidate in 2014 and 2018.
