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Gutierrez: "I'm not Teflon Don"
Former governor Carl Gutierrez has had his share of time in and out of court since the day he left office. He spoke candidly about the criminal charges he faces - and has beaten - and speculation about other criminal activity.
Despite the blows, it seems the former chief executive of the Government of Guam is still standing...and doesn't believe the lawsuits will impact his chances of being the island's leader again. Familiar with the tactics of previous campaigns, Gutierrez is prepared for the upcoming elections saying nothing can beat what happened in the election season of 1998.
"They spent millions of dollars to unseat me through dastardly ways to smear me," Gutierrez said of his detractors. "They even had people come and live at the Reef Hotel, wire-tapping cell phone calls of my family and friends. I heard they even had guys from the States that you don't know with videocameras on their belt buckles."
Despite former majority leader Congressman Tom Delay's efforts to launch a full investigation and teams of federal agents raiding government agencies, Gutierrez says he was cleared. "It's all a game to these people, but they hurt lives," he said.
The former governor denies knowing about any criminal activity his former cabinet members who have been convicted were involved in. And while he's used to people referring to him as a corrupt leader or the big fish, Gutierrez shakes it off.
"I'm not Teflon Don," he said sternly.
He continued to say, "I don't worry because I have done nothing wrong. I have kept my life straight."
As for allegations that he's addicted to drugs after he was named as the recipient of a number of Percocet prescriptions in former Guam Memorial Hospital administrator Dr. Davina Lujan's plea agreement, Gutierrez denies any addiction and says the pain of a recurring medical condition forces him to take painkillers. "There's nothing illegal about that, as far as I'm concerned, as a patient. I felt that I was checked by a doctor, given a legal prescription and I picked up my medicine."
He also let forth a healthy laugh when saying, "People do that, what's wrong with that? But am I addicted to 300 percocet?"
Gutierrez and Senator Benjamin J. Cruz are scheduled to make their official announcement of their gubernatorial candidacy in June, until then the former governor says he'll continue to roll with the punches and defend his reputation and service to the island.
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