Castro retained as chief justice; constitutional convention falls short despite majority support

Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexandro Cruz Castro received overwhelming support for another term, while a proposal to hold a constitutional convention failed to secure the required two-thirds majority despite receiving more yes than no votes in the Nov. 3 general elections.

According to unofficial results released by the Commonwealth Election Commission Wednesday morning, Castro received 10,359 yes votes, or 85%, against 1,832 no votes, or 15%, in the judicial retention question.

The results put Castro in position to serve another eight-year term as chief justice, subject to CEC certification.

Under the CNMI Constitution, Supreme Court justices must receive a majority of votes cast in a retention election to remain in office for another eight-year term.

Meanwhile, the proposal to convene a constitutional convention received 7,602 yes votes, or 63.7%, against 4,324 no votes, or 36.3%.

Although a majority of voters favored holding a convention, the proposal fell short of the two-thirds approval required under Article XVIII, Section 2 of the CNMI Constitution.

Based on the unofficial tally of 11,926 votes cast on the question, at least 7,951 affirmative votes were needed to meet the constitutional threshold, leaving the proposal 349 votes short.

The ballot question asked voters whether a constitutional convention should be held to propose amendments to the CNMI Constitution.

Gov. David M. Apatang placed the question on the ballot through an executive order in September after the Legislature failed to act on the constitutional requirement to submit the question to voters at least once every 10 years.

Had the measure secured the required two-thirds majority, the Legislature would have been required to convene a convention to consider proposed constitutional amendments, which would subsequently be submitted to voters for ratification.

In the Board of Education election, Daniel Ogo Quitugua received 7,840 votes in the uncontested race for the seat representing Saipan and the Northern Islands.

Quitugua, who ran as a nonpartisan candidate, is poised to join the board following certification of the results.

In the Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council race, former House representative Anthony Tenorio Benavente led with 6,935 votes, followed by incumbent Marian Deleon Guerrero Tudela with 6,801 and incumbent Antonia Manibusan Tudela with 6,307.

All three occupy the available seats based on the unofficial results.

On Tinian, incumbent Anne Marie Cruz San Nicolas led the municipal council contest with 855 votes, followed closely by Chad Ellie Palacios with 852 votes.

Wally Flores Villagomez finished third with 782 votes.

With two seats listed as available by the CEC, San Nicolas and Palacios occupy the winning positions, separated by just three votes.

On Rota, incumbent Jonovan Hocog Lizama topped the municipal council race with 966 votes, followed by Sandra Mesngon Masga with 942 and Tillie Castro Taimanao with 908.

Lizama and Masga occupy the two available positions based on the unofficial results, with Masga leading Taimanao by 34 votes.

All municipal council candidates ran on a nonpartisan basis.

The results remain unofficial and subject to CEC verification and certification.