by Ken Wetmore, KUAM NewsWednesday, December 01, 2004
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The Decision 2004 General Election results for the Guam Education Policy Board may be finalized Friday. Guam Election Commission executive director Gerry Taitano says the agency's board of directors is tentatively scheduled to meet at 4:30 Friday afternoon to certify the write-in candidates in the GEPB race.Taitano says another matter that will be discussed and acted on is the withdrawal of candidacy of Garland Wilhite for the board. Wilhite was certified as the winner of one of the two seats in the Luchan district, but submitted a letter to the GEC on November 22 withdrawing his candidacy due to health reasons. Taitano says the question of what happens now has gone to the GEC's legal counsel."Our counsel is of the opinion because Mr. Wilhite has not been sworn-in and that he has actually withdrawn his candidacy," said Taitano, "it might be statutorily authorized for the Guam Election Commission to remove his name from the actual certification list and then include the next highest candidate."The next highest candidate in the Luchan district is Joe Alig. GEC board members are expected to make a final decision on what to do based on their legal counsel's recommendation Friday. The write-in candidates certification has been slowed because one candidate, Avery Ferras, has been off-island and unable to provide the necessary documents to the GEC before he can be certified.However, Ferras is expected back on island Thursday and Taitano says he expects the write-in candidate to turn in his police clearance and financial disclosure Friday morning.