Reform Party (Northern Mariana Islands) Explained

Reform Party
Colorcode:Purple
Foundation:1999
Ideology:Populism
Radical centrism
Country:the Northern Mariana Islands
Founder:Froilan Tenorio
Dissolved:2002
Colors: Purple
Split:Democratic Party
Merged:Democratic Party
Position:Radical centrism

The Reform Party was a political party in the Northern Mariana Islands. It was not an affiliate of the Reform Party USA but rather the American Reform Party, a splinter group.[1] [2]

History

The Reform Party was founded in 1999 by former Governor Froilan C. Tenorio, who claimed to be disgruntled and tired of the disunity showed by his former political affiliation, the Democrats.[3] [4] He also targeted the Republicans, saying that they did nothing to improve the slumping economy. Despite this, in 2000, Gubernatorial and Democrat hopeful former Lt. Gov. Jesus C. Borja publicly expressed interest in a Democrat-Reform united front against the Republicans in the 2001 elections.[5]

In the 1999 general elections, the Reform Party won their first and only seat in the Northern Mariana Island Senate with candidate Ramon "Kumoi" Santos Deleon Guerrero.[6]

In the general elections held on 3 November 2001, the party won no seats and gubernatorial candidate Froilan Cruz Tenorio of the Reform Party won 1,368 votes out of the 12,124 votes (11.3%) coming in fourth place, defeated by the Republicans (42.8%), Covenant (24.4%), and Democrats (17.5%).[7] The Reform Party was formally dissolved in 2002, remerging into the Democratic Party.[8] Party founder Froilan Tenorio would switch back to the Democratic Party for his 2005 Gubernatorial bid.[9] Their website no longer exists, only accessible through the Wayback Machine, which shows the last moment it was accessible is 2008 and that the last newsletter posted was by former Senator Ramon "Kumoi" Santos Deleon Guerrero on 10 December 2001.

Electoral history

CNMI Territorial House of Representatives elections

YearDistrictCandidateVotesPercentagePlacementResult
1999District 1: Saipan (6 seats)Pedro P. Castro1,06712thLost
Joseph M. Palacios80715thLost
Pedreo T. Nakatsukasa39116thLost
District 2: Saipan (2 seats)Anicia Q. Tomokane3043rdLost
Vicente Hosono Sablan2484thLost
District 3: Saipan & Northern Islands (6 seats)Joaquin T. Quitugua30711thLost
District 4: Saipan (2 seats)Josephine Deleion Guererro Mesta3246thLost

Notes and References

  1. News: Dandan. Zaldy. New Party organized. 26. 9. 3. Mariana's Variety. April 12, 1999. June 11, 2023.
  2. News: Dass. Jojo. Island-wide Election for House Reps Proposed. June 17, 1999. 26. 70. Marianas Variety. June 11, 2023.
  3. Web site: Dandan . Zaldy . 1999-03-22 . Froilan doubts Democrats to remain united for long . 2021-12-17 . Saipan Tribune . en-US.
  4. News: Dass. Jojo. Island-wide Election for House Reps Proposed. June 17, 1999. 26. 70. 6. Marianas Variety. June 11, 2023.
  5. Web site: 2000-06-15. Borja welcomes coalition with Reform Party. 2021-12-17. Saipan Tribune. en-US.
  6. Web site: 2008-07-24 . The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands American Reform Party Application . 2021-12-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080724040943/http://www.americanreform.org/Mariana-Islands/ . 24 July 2008 . dead.
  7. Web site: 2006-11-04. Flashback November 05, 2001-2002. 2021-12-17. Saipan Tribune. en-US.
  8. Web site: Staff . Variety News . 2002-06-13 . Tenorio returns to Democratic Party . 2023-12-24 . Marianas Variety News & Views . en.
  9. Web site: 2004-08-29. Lang Tenorio eyeing Dem's endorsement. 2021-12-17. Saipan Tribune. en-US.