by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - With less than a month until the deadline for candidates to file with the Guam Election Commission, the Democratic Party of Guam is still without a gubernatorial team for this year's election.

Chairman Rory Respicio says the party continues to be engaged with its grass roots efforts to encourage a gubernatorial team along with other seats up for election. He adds former governor Carl Gutierrez continues to be a potential candidate. "Governor Gutierrez has said he is running and he's always said he's interested in doing these kind of things in terms of the politics of the island and in recent meetings, he's told party leaders, he would not let the party down so I'm trying to piece all the puzzles together but in due time the picture of what this puzzle presents will become clear and it will be come clear soon because July 1st is the deadline," he said.

He adds this is the first time in the party's history where a gubernatorial team has yet to surface within 30 days of the filing deadline. As for rumors about Gutierrez pairing with Attorney Gary Gumataotao for the election, Respicio could not confirm but says he had heard those names in discussions. The Democratic Party's Central Executive Committee meeting meanwhile meets this Thursday at the Sinajana Community Center.

As for the Republicans, Governor Eddie Calvo is inviting every Guamanian to join him this Sunday for the launch of the Calvo/Tenorio campaign kick-off rally. Calvo says the “Campaign For Progress” rally will focus on speaking and listening to the people and will feature food, fun entertainment and a motorcade in every village leading up to the event. Calvo adds he and Lt. Governor Ray Tenorio are humbled by the support they have received saying “we’re not going to take anything for granted. We’re going to earn every vote. We need every Guamanian’s vote to make it.” The Calvo/Tenorio kick-off rally takes place this Sunday at 4pm at its headquarters at the former Kindo’s Building in Anigua along North Marine Corps Drive.