To recall or not to recall. That is the question. Vice Speaker Telena Nelson's Bill 259 - which would allow a recall election for jailed Yona Mayor Jesse Blas - up for a public hearing today.

"We would have to go into session tomorrow to ensure that we safely meet the timeline of processing the bill forward and 10 days for the governor to sign - if she should sign - then allow the 30 days to conduct the recall so that the position would be vacant by March 8, 2020."

Nelson explained how tight the timeline is for passing her bill.
She called it "a very uncomfortable bill for an unusual circumstance."

Mayor Blas has been in the slammer since September, but he just appointed a municipal planning council - something he failed to do when he wasn't in jail.

One of Mayor Blas' appointees to his village MPC - Sen. Jose Pedo Terlaje. He went to bat for Blas - who was indicted on bribery and extortion charges relative to allowing drug traffickers to use cluster mailboxes to ship the drug "ice" into Guam.

SenTerlaje's son Joey Terlaje - a former prison deputy director - was linked to Blas by the feds. Joey Terlaje abruptly resigned from the Department of Corrections the day after Blas' arraignment hearing--his name mentioned by federal agents in that hearing.

Today Sen. Terlaje gave his thoughts on Yona's situation.

"Let the court decide, you know believe in our democratic society," he said at the hearing. "So what is the problem with waiting to let the court decide before going into this?"

Yona resident Kiko Hiton had been behind a recall petition, but he said residents were scared to sign it. it was revealed in Blas' court hearings that a federal informant said Blas threatened her, saying he had connections in law enforcement.

Hiton - who has said he may run for mayor - asked senators why they didn't act sooner to deal with the issues surrounding Blas and the mayor's office.

"You are the lawmakers," he said. "Is he breaking the law or not? Make me understand. What is your answer?"

While Hiton said residents were scared to sign the petition, Sen. Terlaje disagreed.

"I speak for the Yona people because I am from Yona and being there for 70 some years, I know the main village of Yona are all close together they're families," Terlaje said. "It is not the fact that the residents don't want to sign the petition. The people of Yona are a really close community and Jesse Blas, for example, stays right in the center of Yona. It's not a matter of people being afraid to sign that petition."

Blas' trial is set for Feb. 4. If a recall election of Blas creates a vacancy by March 8, a special election will be held to replace him.

Guam Election Commission Head Maria Pangelinan said the cost of those two elections would be just under $50,000.

Also today, Nelson has written to Speaker Tina Muna Barnes asking for an emergency session to be called tomorrow to address her recall bill.

In response to Nelson’s request, the Speaker decided she would not call for an emergency session. The Speaker in her letter to Vice Speaker Nelson said her decision was based on discussions with Yona constituents, village mayors and “the fact that there is no immediate threat to life, safety, and health, I am unable to waive the Open Government Law. “ Speaker Barnes did however say she will be leaving island on Thursday which means Nelson will be acting speaker “Should you feel that this situation is an emergency that warrants immediate action, you are well within your right to call an Emergency Session”.