AFTER stinging each other for weeks to sway votes, the future of opposing gubernatorial candidates Sen. Eddie Calvo of the Republican Party and the Democrats former Governor Carl T. C. Gutierrez will be chose today as more than 52,000 registered voters cast their ballots in what many believed is the most crucial election in Guams political history.
With the multibillion dollar military buildup developing in months and years ahead, a vote for any of the two, who shall serve a term of four years, would mean the future for Guam.
œI do believe the election on both Guam and the Northern Marianas is critical to both territories and I sincerely hope there is a excellent turnout, said Sam McPhetres, a political analyst who also teaches at Northern Marianas College.
Northern Marianas is observing today its 2nd congressional election.
Incumbent Congressman Gregorio œKilili Camacho Sablan, Independent, is running against former lt. governor and associate justice Jessie Borja of the Democratic Party, former Governor Juan N. Babauta of the Republican Party, and former House Floor Leader Joseph N. Camacho of the ruling Covenant Party.
The Guam electorate must also cast votes for 15 senators who will represent them in the 31st Legislature.
Thirty senators, equally split between the GOP and the Democrats, are vying for the available seats.
Also in the ballot are the retention questions for Associate Justice Phillip Carbullido and Superior Court Judge Anita Sukola.
Former U.S. Attorney Lenny Rapadas and Atty. Frank œGary Gumataotao are competing for the attorney generals position.
The vice mayoral race in the village of Agat is also up for a vote.
Rising after defeat
Gutierrez, 69, was twice defeated as gubernatorial candidate"in 1978 and 1986.
In 1994, he finally won the gubernatorial race alongside incumbent Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo as his running mate. The two won another term and served until 2002.
Gutierrez, who served the Senate for 20 years, eventually retired in 2003.
But the veteran politician whom many hailed as from the grassroots attempted to run for a third term in 2006 but was defeated by former Guam Congressman Robert Underwood in the Democratic primary. Underwood then lost to incumbent GOP Governor Felix Camacho.
Calvo, 49, is a five-term senator and is currently the minority leader in the Democrat-dominated 30th Guam Legislature.
The son of former Governor Paul Calvo, the senator had his share of defeat in 2002, when he ran as the running mate of then gubernatorial candidate Tony Unpingco who lost to Camacho in the GOP primary.
Both the GOP and the Democrats are confident of victory.
Calvo who is running opposite Sen. Ray Tenorio had Blueprint 2020 as their platform, detailing their economic and other plans for the island.
Gutierrez and his running mate, Sen. Frank Aguon, Jr., have ASAP Guam.
The Calvo-Tenorio campaign believe the people of Guam œwant to retire the politics of the past forever and go forward in a new and exciting direction.
The senator, whose campaign was rocked by the Gutierrez-Aguon camps disclosure that his familys SelectCare health insurance firm got a œsweetheart deal with the Government of Guam, continues to persuade voters to carry the GOP ticket.
œIt cant happen without your vote, he said in a statement. œThis is your right. No one can take it from you. No one can tell you what to do. Your vote is between you and God.
œThis truly is a movement of the people and for the people, transcending party lines like never before, he added.The Gutierrez-Aguon team, on the other hand, is counting on the former governors proven leadership during Guams tough times. Countless supporters whom he helped are also rallying behind his candidacy.
œOur leadership is proven and experienced; our governance will be honest and practical. We will be responsive to the people and proactive in our approach to governing, carefully considering all consequences before taking action. We welcome guidance from those who wish to participate in developing sensible policies for the betterment of everyone in Guam, a statement from their website reads.Ready for voters
Guam Election Commission Executive Director John Blas is confident there will be a favorable turnout when polls close at 8 p.m. tonight after opening at 7 a.m.
As of yesterday, he said there were 52,821 registered voters. Of the figure, at least 3,600 voted in house at the GEC office in Hagatna as of 5:30 p.m.
œJust based on the high volume of in-office voting, it shows one that everyone wants to be able to cast their votes, he said adding that although today is also All Souls Day, he believes residents will still exercise their right to vote.
Blas said the commission is still waiting for the nearly 100 deployed and overseas ballots to be sent back.
He confirms he has received ballots, but could not tell how many arrived pending this evenings ballot count and also when his staff picks up ballots from the post office.
The director also stated that there will be police presence at all the precincts for safety reasons.
œI know that this general election is a very excited campaign year for the gubernatorial teams. The only thing I question from the supporters from both camps is to just allow the election process to run smooth without any incident (and) without any physical altercation. At the end of the day, once a gubernatorial team has been declared the winner, were all going to be neighbors, friends and family members again so police are there to serve as a deterrent. We hope we wont have to exercise any situations if they occur, he said.
The ballot counting is expected to be wrapped up around 3 a.m. but Blas cautioned that depends on the process precinct officials go through.
The commission conducted a last minute seminar last night for interested precinct officials after it was learned there were still 53 vacancies for Tamuning and Yigo.
The matter was discussed during the GEC meeting last night at the University of Guam Field House and the board voted to hold the seminar.
Another suggestion was made for the board members to be at Tamuning Elementary School to ensure the voting process runs smoothly.
The board is calling for Guam Department of Education Superintendent Dr. Nerissa Underwood to make sure the gates at schools designated as polling sites are open at exactly 6 a.m.
This issue was brought up by board member Martha Cruz Ruth who stated that when she went to check her precinct at Agana Heights Elementary School, the gates were locked and the DOE employee who had the keys came nearly an hour late, thus making it hard for precinct officials to prepare the ballots on time for when the polls open.
Immediately following the meeting, the board, along with Bill McCullough, consultant for the GEC, tested the four tabulation machines that will be used tonight.
Article source: http://mvguam.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15123:-guam-2010&catid=1:guam-local-news&Itemid=61
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Halo Sobat, Nama Saya Sofyan Syah, Memulai Dunia Blogging Sejak Nov 2011, Meskipun Masih Baru terjun di Dunia Blogging, Saya tidak patah semangat Untuk menjadi Yang terbaik dari yang Terbaik, karena saya yakin, Tidak ada hal yang tidak Mungkin.Buat saya Blogging Is My Life.Senang rasanya jika sobat sudah Berkunjung di blog ini.
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