by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - The deadline to file your candidacy for this year's election isn't until July, but several potential candidates have already started their campaign by picking up a packet at the Guam Election Commission.

Decision 2014 is in full gear. And in this year's election, there's several seats up for grabs. "We have the Governor and Lt. Governor, that's one seat as a team then we have the Legislature and that's 15 seats and then we have the delegate for Congress and that's one seat and we have the Attorney General, the Guam Education Board with six seats and then Consolidated Commission on Utilities and that will we have three seats," said GEC executive director Maria Pangelinan. She said since the GEC officially started releasing candidate packets in late January, over two dozen individuals have come forth featuring several incumbents and a few familiar names. For the Guam Legislature, picking up packets under the Republican ticket so far include incumbent Aline Yamashita, DYA director Adonis Mendiola, former Port general manager Mary Torres, Guam Education Board member Barry Mead, former Port general manager Glenn Leon Guerrero and Wil Castro from the Bureau of Information Technology. Under the Democrat ticket, they include incumbents Michael San Nicolas, Tina Muna Barnes, Frank Aguon Jr., and Tom Ada, former senators Judi Guthertz and Adolpho Palacios and some new names like Harry Cipriano, Derick Baza Hills and Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo's long time former district director Joaquin Perez. Frank Ungacta Jr. and Felix Benavente also picked up packets but didn't indicate a party affiliation.

For the Guam Education Board, Sheila K. Salas, Ronald Ayuyu and Barry Mead picked up packets. Current AG Leonardo Rapadas also picked up a packet seeking re-election. As for governor, Jonathan Frank Blaz Diaz picked up a packet under the Republican ticket. Diaz had previously ran as an independent for Congress and again as a Democrat for both Congress and senator. Along with picking up packets for senator and the GEB, Barry Mead picked up a packet as well for governor.

"You pick up a packet with the intent to run now between picking up a packet and the deadline to submit, you may change your mind so it doesn't necessarily mean that everyone who picks up a packet is going to run there's a potential they'll run but maybe they won't," said Pangelinan.

Governor Eddie Calvo and Lt. Governor Ray Tenorio have announced their bid for re-election through village meetings. The Democrats meanwhile have yet to seal a gubernatorial ticket. Governor and lt. governor require 500 signatures of registered voters as does the delegate to congress. Senators require 250 signatures whereas the GEB requires 150. No signatures are required for the AG and the CCU. Candidates can start filing their candidacy starting April 22nd with the deadline on July 1st.