Benigno Fitial

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Governor Benigno Fitial announced in March 2009 that he would seek re-election to a second term in November. [26]

On June 12, 2009, Fitial presided over Covenant Party midterm rally in Susupe with an estimated crowd of approximately 3,000 people in attendance. [27] Fitial and Inos officially filed to run for re-election with the CNMI Election Commission on July 23, 2009, in the presence of nearly 200 family and supporters. [27] In the November 2009 gubernatorial election, Fitial was challenged by the Republican nominee, Heinz Hofschneider, as well as independent candidates Juan Pan Guerrero and Ramon "Kumoi" Guerrero. In March 2009, Fitial had publicly stated that he will retire from politics if his re-election bid was unsuccessful. [28] In the general election, Hofschneider led Fitial by just 8 votes; because none of the candidates won a majority, a runoff between Hofschneider and Fitial was triggered. [29] [30] Fitial won the runoff by 370 votes and therefore was re-elected. [31] Due to a newly ratified legislative initiative, Fitial was expected to serve a five-year term, as the next gubernatorial election would now be held in 2014. [31]

Impeachment

Fitial became the first governor in any US insular area and the 13th in the history of the nation to be impeached (February 11, 2013). [1] The CNMI House of Representatives pre-filed 18 Articles of Impeachment against Fitial on the day of their Inauguration (January 14, 2013). [32] They voted to adopt 13 of the Articles of Impeachment on February 11, 2013, and adopted the remaining 5 Articles of Impeachment on February 12, 2013. All 18 charges were transmitted to the Senate where Fitial would have stood trial had he not resigned.

House Votes:

Benigno Fitial
Benigno Fitial 2009.jpg
Fitial in 2009
7th Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
In office
January 9, 2006 February 20, 2013
ChargeYesNoAbstain
Article 1Commission of Felony1640
Article 2Commission of Felony1640
Article 3Commission of Felony1640
Article 4Commission of Felony1640
Article 5Corruption1640
Article 6Corruption1640
ChargeYesNoAbstain
Article 7Corruption1640
Article 8Corruption1640
Article 9Corruption1640
Article 10Neglect1631
Article 11Neglect1640
Article 12Neglect1640
ChargeYesNoAbstain
Article 13Neglect1640
Article 14Neglect1640
Article 15Neglect1541
Article 16Neglect1631
Article 17Neglect1640
Article 18Neglect1640

"No" votes: Minority leader George Camacho (R-Saipan), Reps. Felicidad Ogumoro (R-Saipan), Teresita Santos (R-Rota), and Richard Seman (R-Saipan) === except for Article 10 - Rep. George Camacho abstained due to conflict.

"Yes" votes: House Speaker Joseph Deleon Guerrero (IR-Saipan), Vice Speaker Frank Dela Cruz (IR-Saipan), floor leader Ralph Demapan (Cov-Saipan), Reps. Antonio Agulto (IR-Saipan), Anthony Benavente (IR-Saipan), Roman Benavente (IR-Saipan), Trenton Conner (Ind-Tinian), Lorenzo Deleon Guerrero (IR-Saipan), Cris Leon Guerrero (Cov-Saipan), Janet Maratita (IR-Saipan), John P. Sablan (Cov-Saipan), Tony Sablan (IR-Saipan), Mario Taitano (IR-Saipan), Ray Tebuteb (IR-Saipan), Edmund Villagomez (Cov-Saipan), and Ralph Yumul (IR-Saipan) === except for Article 15 - Rep. Roman Benavente abstained unknown reasons.

Career prior to governorship

See also

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References

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Political offices
Preceded by Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
2006–2013
Succeeded by