GOP, Torres-Jones campaign open Chalan Laulau headquarters

The CNMI Republican Party and the Committee to Elect Ralph DLG Torres and Benjamin Mendiola Jones Jr. have opened their headquarters on the second floor of the Ladera Building in Chalan Laulau as campaigning picks up ahead of the Nov. 3 general elections.

CNMI Republican Party president James A. Ada said the headquarters will serve both the GOP and the Torres-Jones campaign, providing space for campaign planning, meetings and the different groups working with the party.

“As you can see, one of the rooms is the situation room where we will probably use it with the committee to elect and of course, at the same time, the GOP board,” Ada said.

He said additional rooms can accommodate the different groups that are part of the committee and the GOP.

Ada said the headquarters will be staffed Monday through Saturday from 7:30am to 4:30pm, with the possibility of extending its hours on weekends.

The headquarters will also serve as a base for the Republicans as they step up campaign activities in the remaining weeks before the election.

“We have a calendar that is all set from now on all the way to the November 3rd general election,” Ada said.

He said the campaign has upcoming meet-and-greets and pocket meetings, along with rallies planned for Tinian and Rota and a final rally on Saipan.

Republican lieutenant governor candidate Benjamin Mendiola Jones Jr., meanwhile, said having an official headquarters gives the campaign much-needed space after families and supporters hosted its meetings over the past several months.

“Man, it's such an exciting moment because we finally get to have an official headquarters,” Jones said.

“But now we are officially opening up our own headquarters here in Beach Road, right on top of the military recruiting base,” he added. “So we're excited. Our team is here.”

Jones said the headquarters has multiple rooms and gives the campaign enough space to accommodate its supporters and team members.

“So that way, people, whenever we have a chance to meet, if we need to come back and just go back to the drawing board and see where we need to tackle for house-to-house visits, this space is available,” Jones said.

Jones also said he had just returned with other members of the team from meetings in Guam, including discussions with airlines, but said more information would be forthcoming.

As for the campaign, Jones said he has been enjoying the experience and credited the Republican team for its support.

“We have a great team, the Republican team,” Jones said. “And it's just awesome to know that everyone has each other's back here.”