GOVERNOR Arnold I. Palacios, businessman Juan Santiago Tenorio, Saipan Mayor Ramon Blas RB Camacho, Board of Education member Andrew Orsini, Rep. Vincent S. Aldan, and Sen. Paul A. Manglona shared similar observations about voter turnout on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5. They noted that voters are “driven,” with the economy being the top issue of concern.
“It’s just a midterm election … but today, people are coming out,” the governor said in an interview at one of the Independent-Democratic canopies in Dandan.
“I think the participation is a little bit high for a midterm election,” said Palacios who first ran for office in 2001.
“It’s a hot day and I think it will pick up toward the evening time,” he said referring to the number of people showing up at polling centers.
He said he went to Tanapag, Capital Hill and Kagman before heading to Dandan.
He acknowledged that the voters’ main concern is the economy.
‘Businesses are closing’
Businessman Juan Santiago Tenorio, for his part, said, “I think the level of concern is high. People are just tired of voting for people that are not educated.”
He said in this election, “I hope that the good [candidates] will win.”
The issue that concerns him the most is the economy, he added. It has been two years since the last election, “but they did not do anything about the economy. Everything is so flat. Look at all these businesses. Businesses are closing.”
Tenorio said the CNMI-Only Transitional Workers Visa is another major concern. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know what’s wrong with the CNMI Department of Commerce. They are not helping,” he added.
Tenorio said, “No matter what we do, we still need at least 3,000 to 5,000 foreign workers.” He noted that a lot companies are closing and one of the reasons is because their CW petitions are not being approved.
Tenorio said businesses lose a lot of money whenever their legacy workers have to leave the island.
“Then, they have to wait [in their countries for] three to five months. Pretty soon, in this place, they are going to be all illegals because they have no paper. This cannot happen. Something must be done and Commerce should really help and fix the problem,” Tenorio said, adding that he thinks the problem is not really the federal government but the CNMI government.
Saipan Mayor RB Camacho said, “The issue that concerns them [voters] the most is the economy.”
“They want to see who among the candidates can offer to help fix these economic issues. It’s very hard. We are in hardship now …. I know inflation is global, but we need to work together,” Camacho said.
Anxious
Board of Education member Andrew Orsini said, “People are very concerned and are coming out to express their thoughts and feelings through voting.”
He added, “I feel their pain, but I am optimistic that things will change and get better for everybody. Today, the level of concern is high.”
Rep. Vincent S. Aldan, who is seeking re-election, said they are trying to “fix the problems left behind by the previous administration. And we are doing everything we can, but Rome was not built in a day.”
He said voters are also concerned about utilities.
“The reason I focus on issues with the utilities is because the economy is based on good infrastructure. Without good infrastructure, everything becomes expensive. Without utilities we don’t have an economy. You need utilities. You need power. And I will not rest until it’s done,” Aldan said.
On Rota, Sen. Paul Manglona, who is seeking another term, said about 80% of registered voters had already cast their ballots as of 4:25 p.m. Tuesday.
In a phone interview, he said the biggest concerns of the Rota people are “the high cost of electricity, lack of jobs, the high cost of commodities and airfare.”
He is grateful to Star Marianas for granting his request to offer Rota’s senior citizens a special fare of $99 every day rather than only on weekends. The regular fare is $165.
“So that’s good news for the manamko’,” Manglona said.
On Dandan Road, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, right, joins the young supporters of U.S. delegate candidate Edwin Propst, Saipan senatorial candidate Manny Gregory T. Castro and Rep. Diego Vincent Camacho, who is seeking reelection.
Saipan Mayor Ramon Blas “RB” Camacho, second right, poses for a photo with U.S. delegate candidate Edwin Propst, Precinct 3 Rep. Ralph N. Yumul and their family members outside Garapan Elementary School.
Board of Education member Andrew Orsini, second right, joins the family and supporters of Precinct 1 Rep. Joseph Flores on Beach Road in San Antonio.
Sen. Paul A. Manglona, who is seeking re-election, joins his supporters as they hold a campaign banner for U.S. delegate candidate Edwin Propst in Sinapalo, Rota.
Precinct 1 Rep. Vincent S. Aldan, right, and his supporters wave at motorists on Dandan Road.
Former first lady Dianne T. Torres, third right, Irene Torres, third left and attorney Joaquin DLG Torres campaign for U.S. delegate candidate Kimberlyn King-Hinds on Beach Road in San Antonio.
Lucy Aldan campaigns for U.S. delegate candidate Kimberlyn King-Hinds with the family members of Precinct 1 House candidate Benusto Piteg on Dandan Road.
Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero, left, who is seeking reelection, with his supporters and Saipan Mayor Ramon Blas RB Camacho outside Garapan Elementary School.
The young supporters of Speaker Edmund Villagomez ride on a truck in Garapan.
The supporters of Precinct 1 House candidate Raymond Ulloa Palacios pose for a photo on Beach Road in San Antonio.
