by Ken Wetmore, KUAM NewsMonday, February 23, 2004
The Republican Party of Guam held its election of officers over the weekend. In a tight race, Philip Flores won the chairmanship of the Party over incumbent chair David Sablan. “I wouldn't say it was heated,” Flores summarized, “I'd say politics is politics and people are running there were no speeches given up there so there was no name calling or anything like that and at the end of the day we're all republican's and my contest was against the incumbent chair person. “At the end, we were sitting together, we shook hands; we promised to help each other.” Flores has been the Republican Party chair in the past, and with November’s mayoral and legislative races drawing nearer wasted no putting a shot across the bow of the Guam Democrat Party. “Never has it been so clear the difference between Republicans and Democrats as right now. 1986 in a debate right after Governor [Ricky] Bordallo was indicted Governor [Carl] Gutierrez who was a senator then was running against Governor Bordallo and when Gutierrez was asked about Bordallo's indictments he said where there's smoke, there's fire. Right now we see an awful lot of smoke in the democrat party,” he added. The other officers elected by the Guam Republican Party are first vice chair Seny Palarca, second vice chair Orpha Mantanane, secretary Christina Arce, treasurer Frank Toves, national committeeman Eddie Baza Calvo and national committeewoman Mary Torres.