1999 Northern Mariana Islands general election

The 1999 Northern Mariana Islands general election was held on Saturday, 6 November 1999. Voters in the Northern Mariana Islands voted for 3 seats in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate, all eighteen seats in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives, seats for the municipal council, and seats for the board of education, and a judge. There were also 4 other legislative initiatives, 2 of which were voted on by all CNMI voters, while 1 was voted on only by Rota voters and 1 only by Tinian voters.[1][2]

1999 Northern Mariana Islands general election

6 November 1999
Senate election
← 1997
2001 →

3 of the 9 seats in the Senate
5 seats needed for a majority
Party Seats
Republican

6
Democratic

2
Reform

1
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
House election
← 1997
2001 →

All 18 seats in the House of Representatives
10 seats needed for a majority
Party Seats
Republican

11
Democratic

6
Independents

1
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

The 1999 elections marked the first time a third party lawmaker was elected in the Northern Mariana Islands, with the newly formed Reform Party achieving a "stunning upset and defeat of formidable incumbent Senator Juan P. Tenorio (Morgen) by newcomer Ramon "Kumoi" Santos Deleon Guerrero."[3][4]

Background

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The 1999 elections takes place in the aftermath of the Japanese asset price bubble and the 1997 Asian financial crisis, which saw as many as 2,000 businesses in the CNMI close down, severely affecting the ruling incumbent Republican party.[4] Tourism has been significantly negatively affected and austerity measures have begun to pressure the population as the economy has turned negative since Governor Pedro Pangelinan Tenorio took office.[5] The Asian financial crisis severely affected the CNMI's main tourist market of East Asia, including South Korea and Japan, the latter also being a key investor in the CNMI since the implementation of the Plaza Accords in 1986 which saw the Japanese investing their surplus of dollars throughout the world.[6] Throughout the period of the Japanese asset price bubble, from 1986 to 1991, "It has been estimated that from 3/4 to one billion dollars in foreign investment flowed into the Commonwealth during the short period of about six years—most of it Japanese."[6] The bursting of this price bubble saw Japanese investment in the CNMI dry up and severely impacted the Commonwealth. Before and during this period of economic turmoil, the CNMI Legislature potentially exacerbated the economic situation by implementing policies that hindered businesses and frequently changed laws and regulations to the detriment and irritation of businesses.[6]

This election also marks the year that The Reform Party was founded by former Governor Froilan C. Tenorio, who claimed to be disgruntled and tired of the disunity showed by his former political affiliation, the Democrats.[7][8]

Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature

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Results summary

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Parties House Election Results Seat Change Party Strength
1997 1999 +/− Strength
  Republican 13 11 2   61.11%
  Democratic 5 6 1   33.33%
  Independent 0 1 1   5.56%
Totals 18 18   100.00%
 
Parties Senate Election Results Seat Change Party Strength
1997 1999 +/− Strength
  Republican 8 6 2   66.67%
  Democratic 1 2 1   22.22%
  Reform Did Not Exist 1 1   11.11%
Totals 9 9   100.00%

Senate

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The Northern Mariana Islands Senate is the upper house of the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature, consisting of nine senators representing three senatorial districts (Saipan & the Northern Islands, Tinian & Aguijan, and Rota), each a Multi-member district with three senators. three seats in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate were up for the 1999 election.

Rota 1st Senatorial District (1 seat)[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Atalig Manglona 728 71.30%
Independent Glenn Hocog Manglona 293 28.70%
Total votes 1,021 100.00%
Tinian 2nd Senatorial District (1 seat)[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David M. Cing 500 55.37%
Republican Jose Ada Hocog 403 44.63%
Total votes 903 100.00%
Saipan & Northern Islands 3rd Senatorial District (1 seat)[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Reform Ramon S. Deleon Guerrero 4,420 52.67%
Republican Juan P. Tenorio 3,970 47.33%
Total votes 8,390 100.00%

House of Representatives

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The Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives is the lower house of the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature. The house has six districts, several of which are Multi-member districts. All 18 seats in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives were contested in the 1999 election.

House of Representative - District 1: Saipan (6 seats)[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David Mundo Apatang 2,192 10.04%
Democratic Brigida "Bridget" Deleion Guererro Ichihara 2,059 9.44%
Democratic Rosiky F. Camacho 1,785 8.18%
Republican Martin B. Ada 1,776 8.14%
Democratic Florencio T. Deleion Guererro 1,330 6.10%
Democratic Antonio M. Camacho 1,315 6.03%
Republican Ana S. Teregeyo 1,274 5.84%
Republican Manuel A. Tenorio 1,250 5.73%
Republican Herman T. Palacios 1,232 5.65%
Democratic Francisco Deleion Guererro Demapan 1,230 5.64%
Republican Karl T. Reyes 1,194 5.47%
Reform Pedro P. Castro 1,067 4.89%
Democratic Juan Borja Tudela 1,037 4.75%
Independent Benjamin M. Cepeda 881 4.04%
Reform Joseph M. Palacios 807 3.70%
Reform Pedreo T. Nakatsukasa 391 1.79%
Total votes 21,820 100.00%
House of Representative - District 2: Saipan (2 seats)[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Oscar Manglona Babauta 504 32.36%
Republican Diego Tenorio Benavente 502 32.22%
Reform Anicia Q. Tomokane 304 19.51%
Reform Vicente Hosono Sablan 248 15.91%
Total votes 1,558 100.00%
House of Representative - District 3: Saipan & Northern Islands (6 seats)[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Heinz Sablan Hofschneider 1,623 13.48%
Republican Benigno Repeki Fitial 1,394 11.57%
Independent Maria T. Peter 1,346 11.18%
Republican Jesus T. Attao 1,311 10.89%
Republican Estanislao T. Torres 1,251 10.39%
Republican William S. Torres 1,159 9.63%
Democratic Maximo L. Olopai 1,084 9.00%
Republican Melvin Lawrence O. Faisao 1,040 8.64%
Democratic Luis S. Camacho 896 7.44%
Democratic Isidro A. Sabaln 630 5.23%
Reform Joaquin T. Quitugua 307 2.55%
Total votes 12,041 100.00%
House of Representative - District 4: Saipan (2 seats)[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edredino M. Jones 711 22.11%
Republican Thoman B. Pangelinan 656 20.40%
Independent Justo Songao Quitugua 528 16.42%
Republican Frank G. Cepeda 522 16.23%
Independent Benigno M. Sablan 474 14.74%
Reform Josephine Deleion Guererro Mesta 324 10.08%
Total votes 3,215 100.00%
House of Representative - District 5: Tinian (1 seat)[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Norman S. Palacios 470 52.04%
Republican Henry H. San Nicolas 433 47.96%
Total votes 903 100.00%
House of Representative - District 6: Rota (1 seat)[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Alejo M. Mendiola 621 57.50%
Democratic Luis Masga Sablan 459 42.50%
Total votes 1,080 100.00%

Municipal Council

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Municipal Council - Saipan & Northern Islands (non-partisan)[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Jesus SN Lizama 4,866 26.12%
Nonpartisan David A. Indalecio 4,759 25.54%
Nonpartisan Gregorio V. Deleion Guererro 4,739 25.43%
Nonpartisan Canice K. Taitano 4,255 22.91%
Total votes 18,619 100.00%
Municipal Council - Tinian and Aguiguan (non-partisan)[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Juanita M. Mendiola 486 18.25%
Nonpartisan Antonio H. Borja 475 17.84%
Nonpartisan Antonio O Kiyoshi 448 16.82%
Nonpartisan Evelyn B. Manglona 433 16.27%
Nonpartisan Juan O Barcinas 415 15.58%
Nonpartisan Esteven M. King 408 15.33%
Total votes 2,665 100.00%
Municipal Council - Rota (non-partisan)[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Jose M. Rosario 632 21.56%
Nonpartisan Kevin T. Atalig 606 20.66%
Nonpartisan Abraham M. Ogo 577 19.67%
Nonpartisan Alexander A. Apatang 434 14.81%
Nonpartisan Alice A. Ladore 392 13.36%
Nonpartisan Steve K. Mesngon 291 9.93%
Total votes 2,932 100.00%

Board of education

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Board of Education - Saipan & Northern Islands (non-partisan)[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Esther S. Fleming 6,110 46.55%
Nonpartisan Roman C. Benavente 4,385 33.43%
Nonpartisan Edward H. Manglona 2,628 20.02%
Total votes 13,123 100.00%
Board of Education - Rota (non-partisan)[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Marja Lee C. Taitano 349 51.51%
Nonpartisan Juanita M. Taisacan 328 48.49%
Total votes 677 100.00%

Judges

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Judge[1] For retention Against retention Total
Votes % Votes %
Judge Timothy H. Bellas

Referendum

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Senate Legislative Initiative 11-1 (SLI 11–1)[1] Votes %
For
Against
Invalid/blank votes
Total
Registered voters/turnout 15,118
Senate Legislative Initiative 11-4 (SLI 11–4)[1] Votes %
For
Against
Invalid/blank votes
Total
Registered voters/turnout 15,118
The Tinian Popular Initiative[1] Votes %
For
Against
Invalid/blank votes
Total
Qualified voters/turnout 1,045
The Rota Popular Initiative[1] Votes %
For
Against
Invalid/blank votes
Total
Qualified voters/turnout 1,293

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "BOE final election results". Marianas Variety. Vol. 26, no. 176. November 15, 1999. pp. 1, 30. Retrieved June 4, 2024 – via eVols.
  2. ^ Eugenio, Haldes V. (1999-11-05). "Voters have 5 legislative initiatives to think about". Marianas Variety. pp. 1, 70. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  3. ^ "Post-mortem". Marianas Variety News. 1999-11-12. p. 6. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  4. ^ a b "Analysis: What went wrong , what went right". Saipan Tribune. 2024-06-04. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  5. ^ "The 2001 slugfest". Saipan Tribune. 2000-01-28. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  6. ^ a b c "A look back at the economy: How it happened". Saipan Tribune. 2006-01-17. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  7. ^ Dandan, Zaldy (1999-03-22). "Froilan doubts Democrats to remain united for long". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  8. ^ Dass, Jojo (June 17, 1999). "Island-wide Election for House Reps Proposed" (PDF). Marianas Variety. Vol. 26, no. 70. p. 6. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
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