Keli confident as judge takes Taisacan challenge under advisement

Northern Islands mayoral candidate Keli Tenorio said she remains confident the court will clear her to run after Superior Court Associate Judge Lillian Ada Tenorio last Oct. 23 took Mayor Valentino Taisacan’s challenge to her eligibility under advisement.

Judge Tenorio heard oral arguments from Taisacan’s attorney Joseph E. Horey, Commonwealth Election Commission counsel Sean Frink, and Tenorio’s attorney Michael Dotts before taking the matter under advisement. No date was announced for a ruling.

“I’m not sure when that will come, but I feel confident,” Tenorio said after the hearing. “I always believe that justice prevails.”

Tenorio also welcomed Taisacan’s appearance after he did not attend the earlier CEC hearing or the Oct. 7 preliminary Superior Court hearing.

“I’m happy to see him and his family here,” she said.

She urged her supporters to continue voting while the case remains pending.

“My supporters need to still come out and vote, please,” Tenorio said.

Taisacan is asking Superior Court to overturn CEC’s earlier decision allowing Tenorio to remain a candidate for Northern Islands mayor.

At the Oct. 7 preliminary hearing, Judge Tenorio sought CEC’s transcripts, documents, and other records and set an expedited briefing schedule ahead of Friday’s oral arguments.

Horey told Marianas Press after the hearing that Taisacan’s position is that Tenorio never established the residence and domicile required to qualify for the office.

“Our argument, as we just explained to the court, was that the commission’s decision was erroneous because she’s required to establish domicile and residence in the Northern Islands before being eligible and she has never done that,” Horey said.

During oral arguments, Horey focused on whether Tenorio had first established an actual residence in the Northern Islands before her stated intent to return could be considered.

He reiterated that point after the hearing.

“But it’s not just what’s your intent, right? You can have your intent if you have lived there at some point in the first place,” Horey said.

Horey also addressed Tenorio’s previous certification as a Northern Islands voter.

“I think there was a mistake that was made here way back when she was first certified to vote,” he said. “The issue didn’t come up at that time, it’s come up now. But now the mistake is being carried over into her candidacy.”

Frink, meanwhile, defended CEC’s decision, arguing during the hearing that the evidence presented to the commission was sufficient to certify Tenorio.

He also pointed to the unusual circumstances of the Northern Islands, where many registered voters live elsewhere because of volcanic activity and past evacuations.

Dotts argued that CEC had considered Tenorio’s history with the Northern Islands, including her visits, access to a residence there, and previous voting history before reaching its decision.

He maintained that the court’s review should consider whether CEC’s findings were supported by the record.

Judge Tenorio questioned the parties about residency and domicile requirements and how those standards apply to Northern Islands voters before taking the matter under advisement.

Taisacan, meanwhile, made his first personal appearance in the proceedings Friday, accompanied by his wife, Horey, other family members, and supporters.

Asked why he had not attended the first Superior Court hearing, Taisacan said he had been in the Northern Islands attending to residents after a typhoon.

“We had an emergency, you know, there was a typhoon that passed through the CNMI, and, you know, I just wanted to check up on the residents out there,” Taisacan said.

He said he brought the case to Superior Court because he disagrees with CEC’s decision.

“We wholeheartedly believe that, you know, she hasn’t met the requirements, so we bring it to court for appeal and have the court make that decision,” Taisacan said.

Asked for his message to Northern Islands residents while awaiting the ruling, Taisacan said, “Well, stay focused and, you know, we’ll see.”