From left, Roca Quitugua Sablan, her husband Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and first lady Diann T. Torres pose for a photo after casting their ballots on Sunday, Nov. 20, at the multi-purpose center.
THE Republican tandem of Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan, along with their families, friends, and other supporters, were among early voters on Sunday, Nov. 20.
“Every time I ran, I was given the people’s blessings, and throughout the years, the community believes in the leadership and believes in what I have done for [them]. This is my last gubernatorial [run] and I hope that…I’m also given the blessing to serve them one more time,” said Torres.
“We wanted to exercise [our right to vote] today because it is a family day,” he added. “We decided to come here and vote as a family. That will also give us time next week to do other things.”
Republican supporters line up outside the Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center to cast their ballots on Sunday, Nov. 20.
Sablan, for his part, said, “Everyone is just excited to vote. We could have done it today, tomorrow, or on the 25th, but with the team and the supporters being so excited to cast their vote for Torres-Sablan, we decided…to vote early, and ask our other voters to come out and take advantage of this early voting process.”
He added, “I have faith and confidence in our voters. We just want to be part of the process and exercise our right to [vote early].”
Torres and Sablan topped the gubernatorial race on Election Day, Nov. 8, garnering 5,728 votes, while the Independent team of Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and running mate Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang finished second with 4,890 votes.
Because neither obtained a majority of the votes cast, the two teams are facing each other in a gubernatorial runoff set for Nov. 25.
Democratic Reps. Christina “Tina” Sablan and Leila Staffler, who finished third in the gubernatorial race with 4,132 votes, have endorsed the Independent ticket.
Since election, some former Independent or Democratic supporters are now endorsing the Torres-Sablan ticket, including former Democratic Party Chair Daniel Quitugua, former Saipan Independent senatorial candidate Andrew S. Salas and former House Independent candidate Juan U. Maratita of Precinct 5.
“We’re blessed to have some of the key players [of the other groups] endorsing us,” Torres said. “I know that [their support carries a lot of] weight. Their families and supporters, I thank them for joining Senator Vinnie and I.”
Sablan, for his part, said, “It’s an honor to have them, on their own free will, choose to believe in the Torres-Sablan tandem. They’ve come and they’ve vowed to support us and bring their supporters to support us. It’s a great thing. We really appreciate them coming onboard.”
Asked about their strategy to win over 50% of the votes, Torres said, “The same thing we’ve been doing all-year round: just informing the community of what we’ve done and what Senator Vinnie and I will both continue to do.”
Sablan said that they will continue to spread the word and show what they’re capable of, what they have been doing in their past leadership positions, and what the people of the CNMI can look forward to in the next four years.
