Inos, who has agreed to be Fitial’s running mate, also disclosed that he is no longer the chairman of the ruling Covenant Party.
“Greg Camacho is the new chairman,” Inos said yesterday.
His next move will be to resign as finance secretary.
“I intend to resign. I have to. The best thing is to remove myself from that position and also I need the time to work on the campaign. I need to reach out to as many residents as possible. I intend to do that,” he said.
Inos said he accepted Fitial’s offer to become his running mate because he believes that the crisis-ridden CNMI needs a tough leader.
“We need strong leaders,” he said. “There’s no backing out. I feel for the people. I know the pain and the suffering they are going through. I know that I can contribute in many ways. I am not saying this because I feel that I am the one that can do it and the others can’t.”
He added, “Like I said before, I am not going to speak for the other folks. I think they are respectable folks. I am sure they have their own way and perspective of helping the people. I certainly have my way working with the governor so I will speak only for myself.”
The finance secretary has no prior political experience but he was a member of the Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council in 1987 and 1988.
“That was not a political office. It’s a nonpartisan one. And being the first council to be organized, we tried our best to get the organization up and running. It has now evolved to a point where it has more responsibilities and got recognized as part of our leaders in the community,” he added.
The other gubernatorial hopefuls are: Saipan Republicans Rep. Heinz Hofschneider and his running mate Speaker Arnold I. Palacios; former Republican Gov. Juan N. Babauta and Board of Education member Galvin S. Deleon Guerrero; the Independent team of former Sen. Juan T. Guerrero and House Floor Leader Joseph N. Camacho; and former Sen. Ramon S. Guerrero, who has yet to name a running mate.
The GOP is tentatively scheduled to hold an open primary in June.
