Ramon Deleon Guerrero

Ramon "Kumoi" Santos Deleon Guerrero (September 19, 1946 – March 20, 2018) was a Northern Mariana Islands politician. Guerrero was an independent candidate for Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands in the 2009 gubernatorial election.[1]

Guerrero previously worked as an assistant to former Governor Froilan Tenorio for seven years.[2] Guerrero also served as the former executive director of the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC) for four years.[2]

In 1999, Guerrero was elected to the Northern Mariana Islands Senate as a member of the local Reform Party. He was sworn into office in 2000[2] and served as a Senator until 2004,[2] when he left office after losing his 2003 re-election bid.

Guerrero died at age 71, in Guam.[3]

Biography

Campaign for Governor

Guerrero announced his candidacy for Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands in January 2009.[1] At the time, Guerrero said that he had made the final decision to run for governor in early December 2008.[1] In a January 2009 telephone interview with the Saipan Tribune, Guerrero explained his motivation for his gubernatorial bid, "The problems we're facing today are right in front of us. It's telling us how to solve it. We've been playing politics all the time. Politics, everything is politics. We cannot solve this problem by playing politics. We have to go straightforward. We just cannot play this game anymore."[1] Speaking about incumbent office holders who were seeking the governorship in 2009, "How many candidates are running for governor who are in office. What more can they promise? People are suffering. What else can they do? The people are suffering and I want to help. I've been there and I want to help."[1]

Guerrero further announced at the time that the slogan for his 2009 gubernatorial campaign slogan would be, "'Time for a change."[1] He held his first campaign strategy meeting with supporters at his home in As Perdido, Saipan, on January 23, 2009.[1] Rudy Sablan became his campaign chairman.[2]

In March 2009, Guerrero announced that he had chosen David Borja, the former commissioner of the Northern Mariana Islands Public School System, to be his running mate for lieutenant governor.[2] Guerrero said that Borja was chosen from a list of 18 possible running mates, "I asked my committee to streamline the Top 5. In the end, Dr. Borja emerged on top."[2]

The Guerrero-Borja team became the first candidates to officially register with the Commonwealth Election Commission to run for Governor on July 10, 2009.[4]

During the campaign, Guerrero urged young people studying overseas to return to the Northern Mariana Islands after completing their education.[5] Guerrero stated that he believed low wages were the major reason why young people choose to work on the U.S. mainland.[5] He said the CNMI government needed to do more to encourage young people to stay in the Commonwealth and that the CNMI should pay workers "their worth."[5] He called on younger workers to return to the CNMI so that older workers could retire saying, "This is their home and we, their people, need them."[5]

References
  1. Rabago, Mark (2009-01-07). "Kumoi launches bid for gubernatorial post". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on 2012-02-24. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
  2. Deposa, Moneth (2009-03-20). "KEx-PSS chief Borja to be Kumoi's running mate". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on 2012-02-24. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
  3. Villahermosa, Cherrie (March 23, 2018). "Former Senator Kumoi passes away". Marianas Variety. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  4. Deposa, Moneth (2009-07-11). "Guerrero-Borja team first to file candidacy". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on 2012-02-24. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
  5. Agpoon, Michelle Ann P. (2009-09-07). "Deleon Guerrero says youth must serve NMI". Marianas Variety. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
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