Former Guam Governor Carl Gutierrez and Attorney Gary Gumataotao will be the Democratic Party of Guam's candidate for Governor and Lt . Governor of Guam in the upcoming General Election this Fall. Gutierrez and Gumataotao will face the incumbent Republicans Governor Eddie Calvo and Lt. Governor Ray Tenorio in what many are already describing as one of the most definitive in Guam's history.
Carl Gutierrez has run for Governor in each Gubernatorial election since 1974-you can also count the eventual loss of his wife Geri who ran for Governor in the 2002 Primary Elections. Many political insiders see this as his last attempt to remain relevant to the Democratic party faithful and pass the torch to a new generation of Democratic leaders. But this seems to be more daunting a task than what is rumored to be the motivation for the Agana Heights resident to be the only man in the history of the island to be elected to the highest post for an unprecedented third term.
The Democratic Party of Guam seems to be headed for yet another dreadful performance in the 2014 General Elections. From a breaking of four decades of tradition in naming Gutierrez as candidate way ahead of the formal registration process to less than spectacular statements and actions of the Party's Central Committee in the lead up to the eventual re-election campaign kickoff of the Calvo Tenorio team, there is not much that will stop of the electorate from staying home this year. What is baffling to many is that for four decades, the party of the "people" have not groomed a single man or woman who can challenge for the seat of the Maga'låhi. Now there are some notable leaders in the community whom this blogger feels could take on any GOP team and make it an interesting race for Adelup-Senator Frank Aguon Jr., former Senator and Bank of Guam President Lou Leon Guererro, GCC President Mary Okada, former Interior Assistant Secretary Tony Babauta and Attorney Peter Perez Sr. But hey, what do I know about elections! Throwing out these names helps the Democrats-if they could see past the petty way they have run their party in recent years.
Would any of the aforementioned one day take over the duties of the Democratic Party of Guam and seek the highest office in the U.S. Territory? Not sure. Many that I have spoken to about the run up into the fall elections are content with Governor Carl and his machine that is beginning to show wear and tear. Many of the patriarchs and matriarchs of the onetime Popular Party have all passed. The children of the pioneers of Guam's modern political system have no interest to take on the mantle of leadership and bring their views and political ideas to the fold. Even harder to accept, each are beholden to Governor Gutierrez and await who he will eventually pass the party baton over to.
It is a shame. There is no reason for those who have the ideas of the party, that at one point touted as claiming two-thirds of the island's electorate, cannot lead it today.
GOP leaders are happy Governor Gutierrez is making the run-again. But they should not be overconfident. The Calvo Tenorio team did not have a mandate-winning by just 487 votes four years ago. Five months can change the minds of the Guam electorate.