THE independent gubernatorial election campaign team of Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang on Friday endorsed the independent mayoral candidacy of former Board of Parole Chairman Ramon “RB” Blas Camacho.
Camacho, who is also a former chairman of the Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council, was accompanied by his campaign team to the headquarters of Arnold-Dave 2022 in Garapan.
The AD 2022 Team intends to field a complete slate of candidates for the general election in November.
Former Speaker Oscar M. Babauta, chairman of AD 2022, also announced the independent candidacies of retired U.S. Navy sailor Vincent “Kobre” Seman Aldan and former firefighter Shawn Delos Reyes Kaipat for the House of Representatives in Precinct 1, and Northern Marianas College Enrollment Services Director Manny Gregory Tenorio Castro who will run with independent Rep. John Paul P. Sablan in Precinct 2.
“A lot of people want to join the team,” Palacios said, adding that within the next month or so, the AD 2022 Team will finalize its slate and “move forward.”
Safer, heathier community
As a mayoral candidate, Camacho vowed to continue his advocacy for a safer and healthier community on Saipan.
“I am very humbled by this group especially the lt. governor and most especially the mayor because he is looking at me to replace him,” said Camacho who ran against Apatang in the two previous elections.
Camacho also promised to continue to do what Mayor Apatang is doing, adding, “I will do more.” His campaign slogan, he said, is “Safe and healthy living in the community.”
Camacho said he would also work closely with the Palacios-Apatang administration “for the betterment of our island.”
Camacho said he is “so lucky” to receive the endorsement of the AD 2022 Team.
The committee chairman of RB Camacho for Saipan Mayor is Ray B. Aldan, the vice chairmen are Lino Tenori and Juan Reyes, the treasurer is Esther Camacho and the secretary is Carmen Pinaula.
Delighted
Palacios, for his part, said, “As we move forward in this election season, this journey, we are beginning to also put together our slate. We are almost there. We are humbled by the positive commitment from the RB Camacho Team, and I am very delighted to have Shawn and Vince and others that we will be introducing in the very near future.”
Apatang also thanked the RB for Mayor Team and the other independent candidates.
“Effective today, we are all one heart. We are part of the AD 2022 Team, and we will all work together — we’ll love each other and we will be holding hands together as we go out and thank the community, and ask for their vote,” the mayor said.
For the greater good
Vincent S. Aldan, who also sought a House seat in the 2020 election, answered when he was asked why he was running again, “It is to see the greater good.”
That greater good, he added, is to serve the public. “There’s no better way to serve the public,” he said, to make sure that everybody is affected “positively.”
To achieve a safer and healthier community, Aldan said, “We know what to do, we know how to do it and we have every resource. We are capable. We have everything we need, and all we need right now is the chance to execute.”
So he’s asking the public to “give us the chance — believe in us, trust in us and we will give back to you what you rightfully deserve because there is nothing else you deserve than a better community, a safer community and a healthier community.”
Shawn Kaipat said he wants to share his vision and help the CNMI. “We are going to push as much as we can. We are going to get into everybody’s heart and we are going to make the [AD 2022 Team] sit up there,” he said referring to the Legislature.
Independent gubernatorial candidate, Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, second right, and his running mate, Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, left, join hands with independent Saipan mayoral candidate Ramon “RB” Blas Camacho, right, and his campaign committee chairman, Ray B. Aldan, in the AD 2022 headquarters in Garapan on Friday.
