By: L.N. Reklai
Airai voters went to the polls yesterday to vote in their candidates to the Airai State government.
The 25 candidates for legislature and two for the gubernatorial seat are vying for votes from the 1,465 registered voters. Based on existing trends, it can be said that close to half of this number reside off island. [restrict[
Only two candidates are running for office of governor, incumbent Governor Tmewang Rengulbai and new candidate Jack Masters. Incumbent Tmewang Rengulbai served as governor of Airai State from 1998 to 2008 (8 years) and again from 2014 to 2018. He has served the most number of years as Governor of Airai having served 12 years. If he wins this one, he will have served 14 years.
Jack Masters threw his name in the game during the 2014 general elections along with 3 other gubernatorial candidates. This election, he is the only one to challenge the incumbent Rengulbai.
The nine candidates for six hamlets are Freese Clinton for Ngchesechang, Richard Rihart Rechirei for Oikull, Dixie Techur and Ricky Ruario Simeon for Ordomel, Kimberly Elarionoff, Dennis Renguul, and Warden Siksei for Ngerusar, Clive Telei, Techur Rengulbai, Rmeriang Tmetuchl for Ngeruluobel and Clarence Kitalong for Ngetkib.
The fourteen (14) candidates vying for the nine (9) at-large seats are Fabian Iyar, O’Dear Yobech, Sano Sakurai, Peter Adelbai, Reagan Sidoi, Douglas Ueki, Leo Ben Teriong, David Orrukem, Ron Ronny Ngirachereang, Williander Ngotel, Helena Rois Yoichi-Arurang, Sherman Daniel, Ralphy Kanai and Stephanie Ngirchoimei.
Results of tabulations were not yet available when this paper went to publication. [/restrict[