Northern Mariana Islands general election, 2009
Encyclopedia
Gubernatorial and legislative elections were held in the Northern Mariana Islands
on November 7, 2009.
with the Commonwealth Election Commission for the 2009 election. That is a 15% increase in voters compared to the 15,118 people who registered to vote in the 2005 general election. Precinct 1 on Saipan, which includes the villages of San Antonio
, San Vicente
and Koblerville, had the most number of registered voters at 4,331. Voter registration ended on September 18, 2009.
A total of 109 candidates vied for the 43 elected positions in the Northern Mariana Islands in the 2009 election. The contested offices included the offices of governor & lieutenant governor, the twenty seats in the House of Representative, six (of nine) seats in the Senate as well as mayoral posts and various local offices.
At least 18,000 ballots designed to be read by counting machines were printed in Alabama for the 2009 election, according to the executive director of the Election Commission, Robert Guerrero
.
. He faced three challengers, Republican Party
nominee Heinz Hofschneider
and two independent
candidates; Juan Pan Guerrero
and Ramon "Kumoi" Deleon Guerrero.
were contested in the election. Six seats in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate
will also be up for election.
Before the 2009 election, the Republican Party controlled the 20-member House of Representatives with a 12 seat majority. The Senate was controlled by the Covenant Party
in a coalition
with the Democrats and a lone independent.
There were nine candidates for mayor on the island of Saipan: Republican Donald Flores
, who won the election, as well as Covenant candidate Marian Tudela, Democrat Angelo Villagomez, and Independent candidates Candy Taman, Joe Sanchez, Roman Benavente, Juan Demapan, Tony Camacho and Lino Tenorio.
Northern Mariana Islands
The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , is a commonwealth in political union with the United States, occupying a strategic region of the western Pacific Ocean. It consists of 15 islands about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines...
on November 7, 2009.
Election Background
A total of 16,146 voters registered to voteVoter registration
Voter registration is the requirement in some democracies for citizens and residents to check in with some central registry specifically for the purpose of being allowed to vote in elections. An effort to get people to register is known as a voter registration drive.-Centralized/compulsory vs...
with the Commonwealth Election Commission for the 2009 election. That is a 15% increase in voters compared to the 15,118 people who registered to vote in the 2005 general election. Precinct 1 on Saipan, which includes the villages of San Antonio
San Antonio, Saipan
San Antonio is a settlement in Saipan, in the Northern Mariana Islands. It is close to the southwestern tip of the island. Once a separate village, it is now virtually contiguous with other nearby villages on beach road, including Susupe, Chalan Kanoa and Chalan Piao....
, San Vicente
San Vicente, Saipan
San Vicente is a village on Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands. it is located close to the shore of Magicienne Bay, to the south of the island's highest point, Mount Tagpochau. It is connected via the cross-island road to Susupe in the west and with Capital Hill and Tanapag to the north....
and Koblerville, had the most number of registered voters at 4,331. Voter registration ended on September 18, 2009.
A total of 109 candidates vied for the 43 elected positions in the Northern Mariana Islands in the 2009 election. The contested offices included the offices of governor & lieutenant governor, the twenty seats in the House of Representative, six (of nine) seats in the Senate as well as mayoral posts and various local offices.
At least 18,000 ballots designed to be read by counting machines were printed in Alabama for the 2009 election, according to the executive director of the Election Commission, Robert Guerrero
Robert Guerrero
Robert Joseph Guerrero is a professional American boxer of Mexican descent. He is the former IBF Super Featherweight champion and a former two-time IBF featherweight champion of the world. Nicknamed The Ghost, Guerrero's record is 29 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw, and 2 no contest, with 18 of his wins...
.
Gubernatorial Election
Incumbent Governor Benigno Fitial, who was elected in 2005, was the nominee of the Covenant PartyCovenant Party (Northern Mariana Islands)
The Covenant Party is a political party in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands advocating government and financial reform. In the legislative elections of 2003, the Covenant Party won nine of eighteen seats. In the 2005 elections, the Covenant Party increased its position as one of the...
. He faced three challengers, Republican Party
Republican Party (Northern Mariana Islands)
The Republican Party is a political party in the Northern Mariana Islands. In the 2001 gubernatorial election Juan Babauta of the Republican Party won with 42.8% of the vote...
nominee Heinz Hofschneider
Heinz Hofschneider
Heinz Sablan Hofschneider is a Northern Mariana Islands politician. Hofschneider served as the Speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives until 2003....
and two independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
candidates; Juan Pan Guerrero
Juan Pan Guerrero
Juan "Pan" Tenorio Guerrero is a Northern Mariana Islands politician and businessman. He has been a member of the Democratic Party of the Northern Mariana Islands in the past, but is running for Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands in 2009 as an independent, with Representative Joe Camacho as...
and Ramon "Kumoi" Deleon Guerrero.
Legislative election
All 20 seats in the Northern Mariana Islands House of RepresentativesNorthern Mariana Islands House of Representatives
The Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives is the lower house of the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature.In the 2007 election cycle, the CNMI House membership was increased from 18 to 20...
were contested in the election. Six seats in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate
Northern Mariana Islands Senate
The Northern Mariana Islands Senate is the upper house of the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature. The Senate consists of nine senators representing three senatorial districts , each a multi-member constituency with three senators.In the November 2007 elections, the three senators up...
will also be up for election.
Before the 2009 election, the Republican Party controlled the 20-member House of Representatives with a 12 seat majority. The Senate was controlled by the Covenant Party
Covenant Party (Northern Mariana Islands)
The Covenant Party is a political party in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands advocating government and financial reform. In the legislative elections of 2003, the Covenant Party won nine of eighteen seats. In the 2005 elections, the Covenant Party increased its position as one of the...
in a coalition
Coalition
A coalition is a pact or treaty among individuals or groups, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest, joining forces together for a common cause. This alliance may be temporary or a matter of convenience. A coalition thus differs from a more formal covenant...
with the Democrats and a lone independent.
Mayoral elections
All four mayoral posts are up for election across the Commonwealth.There were nine candidates for mayor on the island of Saipan: Republican Donald Flores
Donald Flores
Donald G. Flores is a Northern Mariana Islander politician. Flores has served as the Mayor of Saipan, the capital and largest municipality of the Northern Mariana Islands, since January 2010. He succeeded retiring Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela....
, who won the election, as well as Covenant candidate Marian Tudela, Democrat Angelo Villagomez, and Independent candidates Candy Taman, Joe Sanchez, Roman Benavente, Juan Demapan, Tony Camacho and Lino Tenorio.