It was the first time these two gubernatorial candidates met face-to-face to debate. The venue: the Pacific Star Hotel in Tumon. The event: the Rotary Club of Guam gubernatorial forum. They are two candidates with drastically different personalities. One charismatic, one calm. Carl Gutierrez said, "This idea of throwing out this bullshit that you're throwing out all the time its gotta stop, governor." Governor Eddie Calvo said, "I apologize if any of you area offended by the profanity." One claims to be a victim the other believes he's being portrayed as a villain. Gutiuerrez said, "Thank God the time has elapsed where there are documents now that can undo the negative caricature that has been painted about Carl Gutierrez by my political enemies, by the media, by people that have ulterior motives and hidden agenda." He also said, "It's a shame to understand that you people are continuing to say that this is the great governor. If he controls the economy by his family business, he controls the media now because of his ownership control by advertising money continue to allow him to hold that third leg and you'll see there's no transparency in this government." Governor Eddie Calvo responded b saying, "And of course, every time he's run against someone as a superhero, he's needed an arch-villain, and before me it was [Dr. Robert] Underwood who was as racist or hated the south and Tom [Ada] and Lou [Leon Guerrero] who were going to take over the people of Guam. God bless Governor Joe Ada, who's really just a great guy that had an administration who knew how to serve the people. I can't remember how my opponent vilified him as well. I'm not even going to entertain the inaccurate false statements made by my candidate - it's been a broken record for over thirty years." Make no mistake - both are seasoned and experienced leaders. Gutierrez is a two-term governor, serving as the island's chief executive from 1995 to 2003 and having served in the Guam Legislature for nine terms, Calvo is finishing his term as governor of Guam and seeking four more years in office. He also is a five-term senator and a successful businessman. Before Rotarians the two candidates were asked several questions such as how to increase private sector jobs, increase the level of customer service in the government, and how if elected they plan to pay back bonds that were floated or pay the debt service and operations going forward.

• published: 09 Oct 2014
• views: 1358