# 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.
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."

## Background

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. 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. 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. 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." 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.
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.

## Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature
### Results summary

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

### Senate

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

### House of Representatives

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) :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 21,820 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 2: Saipan (2 seats) :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 1,558 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 3: Saipan & Northern Islands (6 seats) :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 12,041 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 4: Saipan (2 seats) :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 3,215 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 5: Tinian (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Norman S. Palacios | 470 | 52.04% |
| | Republican | Henry H. San Nicolas | 433 | 47.96% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 903 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 6: Rota (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Alejo M. Mendiola | 621 | 57.50% |
| | Democratic | Luis Masga Sablan | 459 | 42.50% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,080 | 100.00% |

## Municipal Council

Municipal Council - Saipan & Northern Islands (non-partisan) :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 18,619 | 100.00% |
Municipal Council - Tinian and Aguiguan (non-partisan) :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 2,665 | 100.00% |
Municipal Council - Rota (non-partisan) :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 2,932 | 100.00% |

## Board of education

Board of Education - Saipan & Northern Islands (non-partisan) :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 13,123 | 100.00% |
Board of Education - Rota (non-partisan) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Marja Lee C. Taitano | 349 | 51.51% |
| | Nonpartisan | Juanita M. Taisacan | 328 | 48.49% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 677 | 100.00% |

## Judges

| Judge | For retention | For retention | Against retention | Against retention | Total |
| Judge | Votes | % | Votes | % | Total |
| Judge Timothy H. Bellas | | | | | |

## Referendum

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