PALIKIR, Pohnpei—The Division of Public Information of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has received from the FSM National Election Director the Official List of Candidates for the March 7th, 2023, General Election.
The General Election on March 7th, 2023, will determine the fourteen (14) Senators who comprise the 23rd Congress of the FSM. Four (4) of the Senators will represent the States of Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae in an “At-Large” capacity, serving for a four-year term. Ten (10) of the Senators will represent individual election districts within the States of Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae, serving for a two-year term.
Citizens may recall that when the 23rd Congress of the FSM sits on May 11th, 2023, the Congress will elect the President and Vice President from amongst the four “At-Large” Senators. The President and Vice President then immediately vacate their seats in Congress, leaving the two At-Large seats they were elected from empty until a Special Election later in the year (typically early July).
For the State of Chuuk’s At-Large Seat, the candidates are Gillian N. Doone, Nakama Sana, and Wesley W. Simina. The incumbent is Wesley W. Simina.
For the State of Chuuk’s Election District 1, the candidates are Florencio Singkoro Harper and Juan K. Martin. The incumbent is Florencio Singkoro Harper.
For the State of Chuuk’s Election District 2, the candidates are Tainiro K. Killion and Victor Vicky Gouland. The incumbent is Victor Vicky Gouland.
For the State of Chuuk’s Election District 3, the candidates are Myron S. Hasiguchi and Perpetua S. Konman. The incumbent is Perpetua S. Konman.
For the State of Chuuk’s Election District 4, there is only one candidate who is thus running unopposed: Tiwiter H. Aritos, who is also the incumbent.
For the State of Chuuk’s Election District 5, the candidates are Robson U. Romolow, Ruphin Micky, and Zander Refilong. The incumbent is Robson U. Romolow.
For the State of Kosrae’s At-Large Seat, the candidates are Aren B. Palik and Yoslyn G. Sigrah. The incumbent, Rolinson Neth, will not be on the ballot.
For the State of Kosrae’s two-year seat, there is only one candidate who is thus running unopposed: Paliknoa K. Welly, who is also the incumbent.
For the State of Pohnpei’s At-Large Seat, the candidates are David W. Panuelo, Peter M. Christian, Welson Panuel, and William N. Kostka. The incumbent is Peter M. Christian.
For the State of Pohnpei’s Election District 1, the candidates are Ferny S. Perman and Merlynn A. Alfonso. The incumbent is Ferny S. Perman.
For the State of Pohnpei’s Election District 2, the candidates are Dion G. Neth and Quincy Lawrence. The incumbent is Dion G. Neth.
For the State of Pohnpei’s Election District 3, the candidates are Erick Paul and Esmond B. Moses. The incumbent is Esmond B. Moses.
For the State of Yap’s At-Large Seat, the candidates are Fidelis Thiyer Fanoway and Joseph Urusemal. The incumbent is Joseph Urusemal.
For the State of Yap’s two-year seat, there is only one candidate who is thus running unopposed: Isaac V. Figir, who is also the incumbent.
The list of candidates above has been screened by the Office of the National Election Director, who received background checks per their request to the FSM Supreme Court, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Health & Social Affairs. The official candidates have been determined to meet the criteria and qualifications as enumerated in the National Election Law and the Constitution of the FSM.
