Tenorio said he is very grateful to his fellow Republicans, attorney Vic Torres and Rep. Ray N. Yumul, who backed out of the race.
“I want to thank [them] for being so gracious to give me the opportunity to run for the party. For them to step down is a great sacrifice and I extend my very deep appreciation for them,” Tenorio told Variety after the GOP’s general membership meeting at the Garapan Central Park last night.
He described the party’s endorsement as a “major milestone” in his quest to become the first CNMI delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.
“I’m going to do my best to provide the kind of public political education that will essentially set the stage for other candidates to be able to look at,” he said.
GOP President Ed Tenorio called on their members to give their full support to Tenorio who has been the CNMI’s Washington representative for the past six years and a lt. governor for eight years. He was also on the NMI panel that negotiated the Covenant with the U.S.
“We need to work in harmony in order to bring peace in the commonwealth,” the GOP president said.
Speaker Arnold I. Palacios, R-Saipan, said although many are running for Congress, there is no doubt that Washington Rep. Tenorio is the most experienced among them.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt on the qualifications of Mr. Pete A. Tenorio to be our delegate,” he told GOP members.
Washington Rep. Tenorio is hoping for a dignified campaign season.
“Hopefully the candidates would conduct themselves in a manner that is civilized and educated,” he said.
If he becomes the first NMI delegate to the U.S. Congress, Tenorio vowed to work in restoring the islands’ annual capital improvement funds to $27.7 million to boost its tourism industry, the backbone of the commonwealth’s economy.
The CNMI’s submerged land issue is also included in his agenda and so is increased funding for Medicaid and food stamp assistance, among other issues.
Former Rep. Karl T. Reyes who was Tenorio’s classmate from first to ninth grades, said the GOP candidate is an honest person who deserves a chance to be the CNMI’s first delegate.
“He’s a straightforward guy and he will help the CNMI,” Reyes said.