Four of the House members told Variety in separate interviews yesterday that they will continue to support the Covenant Party in the midterm elections next year.
Variety also learned that some key leaders of the Covenant Party who do not want to follow Gov. Benigno R. Fitial in joining the Republican Party have been advising Covenant lawmakers to keep the party alive “all the way” to the 2014 gubernatorial race.
Rep. Raymond D. Palacios said he will not abandon the party that put him in office. He said the Covenant Party in Precinct 2 is very active and is getting stronger so it is very unlikely that he will “cross the aisle.”
Palacios also expressed confidence that all his colleagues in the House will stay with the Covenant Party. He said none of his colleagues have shown any indication of joining the GOP.
Rep. Edmund S. Villagomez, a freshman lawmaker from Precinct 3 said there’s no reason for him to leave the Covenant Party. He has not yet decided whether to seek a second term, but Villagomez said he will stay with his party.
Rep. Froilan C. Tenorio, the only Covenant Party candidate who won in Precinct 1 in 2009, said he may not seek reelection but will continue to support the Covenant Party candidates.
The former Democratic governor said even when his term ends next year, he will remain an active member of the Covenant Party and support its gubernatorial candidate in 2014.
Vice Speaker Felicidad T. Ogumoro, who served in the first Legislature as member of the Territorial, which is now the Republican, Party, said there’s a lot of work to be done to turn the economy around but she has not thought about seeking another term.
But in case she decides to run again next year, Ogumoro said she will work with the ruling party.
“The people are suffering so helping them out is my priority at this time,” she said, adding that she is too busy with programs and projects to be thinking about her reelection bid.
