Micronesian

New Faces In

Congress

From a Saipan correspondent Twelve sitting members of the Congress of Micronesia—27 seats vere in jeopardy—were beaten in the -eneral elections, the results of vhich were declared unofficially in nid-November.

Biggest upsets were in the Senate Sections. Senator Edward D. Pange inan, chairman of the Marianas > olitical Status Committee and leader >f the Marianas side in the talks vith the United States, was beaten >y nearly 400 votes by Pedro A. fenorio. Another leader Senator \.ndon Amaraich, of Truk, a voci erous critic of the United States rusteeship in Micronesia, lost his eat. The victor was Nick Bossy.

A woman candidate, Carmen dilnc Bigler, who is married to an American, made history, becoming be first of her sex to occupy a seat i the House of Representatives. She eat the sitting member for District 7 ive in the Marshalls, John Heine, nd two other contenders.

Another prominent House of Representatives member, Felipe Q.

Ualig, of the Marianas, who was umped by his party, the Popular 'arty, before the election, predict bly lost his seat to Jose P. Mafnas f the Territorial Party.

Dumped or not, he would prob bly have lost because all but one f the four Popular Party men up or re-election in the Marianas lost beir seats. The successful Popular 'arty man was Herman R. Guerrero /ho unseated Pedro P. Tenorio.

The results in the Marianas are elieved to reflect the people’s im atience at the slow pace of the pro ress of the political status talks, Ithough personalities, behaviour and amily affairs play a significant part a campaigns. In the case of 'angelinan, there was criticism of iis alleged pro-American bias.

There will be fresh faces, there ore, at the next rounds of talks be ween the United States and the /licronesian Joint Committee on uture Status and between the Jnited States and the Marianas.

The Marianas will pursue their oal, a separate commonwealth tatus in union with the United States, in the next round scheduled o begin on Saipan on December 2.