The tension between the Executive and Legislative Branch of
Guam's government was ratcheted up today as Senators of the 32nd Guam
Legislature voted down the appointment of Henry Taitano to head up the Guam
Economic Development Authority (GEDA). Taitano
did not have Eight votes to confirm his appointment as GEDA Administrator. This is an example of the Administration not
taking enough time to count votes ahead of the vote today-even after a
delay.
There is no question that Henry
may have not had the "right stuff" to lead the agency tasked with all
the public sector financing here. The
inquiries into his past and current business dealings drew enough doubt in the
minds of lawmakers. But, the televised Session
debate on the Taitano Confirmation was downright ridiculous at times.
He is a family man. He is a God-fearing individual. He has a genuine desire to serve the people
of Guam. Lawmakers called Taitano an "educated young man who probably
needs more real-world experience to kind of smooth out those rough edges". Very supportive , but the rhetoric did not
translate into votes. At the end of the
day, a bright young mind in our island community was denied a chance to serve.
We all have seen this before. Since the start of the Camacho Administration
in 1971, many men and women have been sent before the Guam Legislature entrusted to lead an Executive Branch agency
and Senators exerted their authority in this process in many different
ways. Some appointees go through quick
while others are knocked out with no regard for the potential the appointee can
give to advancing the mission of a given agency. Our Island's Chief Executives have
all struggled with this over the past 42 years.
Seven Governors spent much time seeking out the best minds to help
administer government. The selections
aren't always the best- but the best for
that given time and era of Guam's history.
And importantly-these folks have the full faith and trust of the
Governor of Guam.
In my eyes, the
timing of this latest setback is equally as important.
The Administration is soon heading into budget talks. This budget headed into an election cycle. With the Territory being left to fend for
itself post-Sequestration and facing a delayed Guam Buildup Program, the summer
and the legislation to be brought forward into the new fiscal year will be
important. Also, jockeying into the next
election cycle will begin throttling up in the fall and will be in full swing
come the start of the New Year.
While
the latest actions out of the Guam Legislature may barely bat an eye within the
local news media, the talk at the dinner tables, water coolers and village
fiestas is already fueling speculation for 2014. Who is running? Who is not running? Who is backing who? These are great questions that a single
confirmation rejection could contribute to an deliberate action in the polling
booths in 18 months by the electorate. The
long term memory of the more than 50,000 registered voters will be surely put
to the test.