U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan is urging party members to help elect Democrats.
A Democrat himself, Kilili was the special guest of the Democratic Party of the NMI during its general membership meeting at the multi-purpose center in Susupe on Saturday.
The party elected by acclamation 22 members to its Central Executive Committee.
They include Labor Secretary Leila Staffler, former Rep. Tina Sablan, former Rep. Richard Lizama, former Sen. David Cing, attorneys Michael White, Joe Hill, and Stephen Woodruff, current party Vice Chair Luella Marciano, Secretary Melia K. Johnson and Treasurer Shawna Indalecio.
Kilili remembered attending the ceremony when the CNMI’s first governor, Democrat Carlos Sablan Camacho, took his oath of office at the same location in Susupe 45 years ago.
He said on that day, the CNMI’s constitutional office was installed when Camacho raised his right hand.
Kilili said “it is the Democrats that bring things here that help people.”
“Let’s get some Democrats elected. [It’s] very important,” he added.
The last time the NMI Democrats won a gubernatorial election was in 1993.
In the general election in November 2022, five Democrats were elected to the 23rd Legislature. They are Sen. Celina Babauta, House Floor Leader Edwin Propst, Reps. Diego Vincent F. Camacho, Vicente Camacho and Denita Yangetmai.
Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero who won a Senate seat in 2020 is also a Democrat.
In the 2022 gubernatorial election, the Democratic tandem of Tina Sablan and Leila Staffler finished third in a three-way race. They then endorsed the Independent ticket of former Republicans Arnold I. Palacios and David M. Apatang who won in the gubernatorial runoff.
In the midterm election next year, three Senate seats — one each for Rota, Tinian and Saipan — and all 20 House seats will be up for grabs.
Kilili said Democrats must also ensure that the CNMI delegate seat in the U.S. Congress remains with the Democratic caucus as “there is so much that we need to get done.”
First elected in 2008, Kilili is currently serving his eighth term as the CNMI delegate.
He informed his party mates on Saturday that he is working with the Palacios-Apatang administration in light of the CNMI’s financial problems.
NMI Democratic Party Chair Jonathan P. Cabrera, for his part, reiterated the party’s commitment to unite the people in the community, rebuild the economy and restore public trust in the government.
“Today, we look forward to the next election and the one after that. To get to the next election, we need to ensure we have a strong and diverse executive committee that will take on the challenge in leading and guiding our party for the next two years. Can we do it? Yes, we can,” he said.
Cabrera thanked party members for their trust, for working with the party and for “reminding us every day why a strong Democratic Party in the CNMI is vital.”
He added, “Let us continue to work together to build a safe, healthy, beautiful, equitable and sustainable Northern Marianas. Together, we can. Yes, we can.”
Gregorio Sablan
