THE three gubernatorial candidates will take the stage tonight, Thursday evening, Sept. 29, in a debate hosted by the Saipan Chamber of Commerce from 6 to 8 at Saipan World Resort’s Taga Hall.
Doors will open at 5 p.m., and the opening ceremony will start at 5:45 p.m.
Northern Marianas College will livestream the sold-out event for the community via its Facebook page.
The chamber, which has been hosting gubernatorial forums or debates since the 1990s, said tonight’s event will further educate voters on the issues by allowing them to hear the opinions and proposals of each candidate.
Each candidate will be given equal time to answer questions submitted in advance by the general public.
Time limits will be enforced fairly and equally in accordance with standard debate procedures.
The three gubernatorial candidates are Republican Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Independent Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Democratic Rep. Christina Marie Elise “Tina” Sablan.
Torres, 43, is seeking a second term with Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan as his running mate.
Palacios, 67, was the governor’s running mate in the 2018 election. This year, Palacios is running with another former Republican, Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang.
Tina Sablan, 41, represents Precinct 2 in the House of Representatives. Her running mate is first-term Precinct 5 Democratic Rep. Leila Haveia F. C. Staffler.
The general election will be on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
According to the CNMI Constitution, “If no candidates receive more than one half of the total votes cast and counted for the offices of the governor and lieutenant governor, on the fourteenth day thereafter, a runoff election shall be held between the candidates for governor and the lieutenant governor receiving the highest and second highest number of votes cast and counted for those offices.”
