NAME: Kelly Marsh-Taitano

PARTY: Democrat

RACE: Senatorial

BIOGRAPHY:

Kelly Marsh-Taitano, from the village of Asan, is a daughter of educators who ventured to Guam in the 1960s. She is grateful that her childhood included living in northern, central, and southern Guåhan—from Dededo to Mangilao and Ipan, Talo'fo'fo'. This gave her the opportunity to experience different special qualities of the island and community.

Over the years, Kelly Marsh-Taitano has served in various leadership roles such as being the Vice-Chair of the Guam Historic Preservation Review Board and President of the American Association of University Women. As a senator of the 35th Legislature, she sponsored new laws to advance the culture, build up the economy, improve public safety, and reform the electoral process. She also developed the statute creating the landmark Guåhan 2050 Sustainability Plan.

Dr. Kelly Marsh-Taitano is a Research Associate of the Micronesian Area Research Center, University of Guam (UOG). She has taught at UOG for numerous years as an Adjunct Professor, teaching courses such as the History of Guam, Critical Thinking, Introduction to Anthropology, and a course she developed along with CHamoru cultural practitioners on recapturing the tradition of carving latte. In addition to this, she conducts cultural and historical community projects like the From Manåmko' to Manhoben (Elders to Youth) oral history project which documents our elders' invaluable experiences to share with this and future generations.

CONTACT INFO:

Phone: 671-472-6951

Instagram: Kelly4Senator

PLATFORM:

Dr. Kelly Marsh-Taitano's education includes:

Cultural Heritage Studies, PhD, Charles Sturt University, Australia

Micronesian Studies, MA, University of Guam

History and Anthropology BA, double major, University of Guam

As a leader, Kelly Marsh-Taitano cares about all aspects of the community--from health care to education and safety. As a senator, she researched and tackled every issue that came before the legislature. Additionally, she has special interest in promoting:

A Sustainable Guam: We must develop sustainably. Being sustainable helps ensure that we meet our present day needs responsibly without compromise the needs and rights of our future generations. It allows for increased food security; cleaner, less costly forms of renewable energy; new economic opportunities; and more.

Speaking Truth to Power: Leaders must ask the hard questions and not close their eyes to any local or national issues that affect our community. Our community deserves no less.

Community: Caring for the community is working for the good of all of us—for a better quality of life, safer neighborhoods, better education, increased economic and other opportunities, and providing each other a hand up when needed.

Culture: Guam has a special, unique island way of life, it is the reason that so many of us from different parts of the world make Guam our home. We must work to safeguard and help maintain the CHamoru culture and our special island way of life in a world of rapid modernization and globalization.

Environment: We have much to protect on Guam. Our northern freshwater lens provides 80% of our drinking water and we are down to some of our last cultural sites, pristine environments, and remaining native plants and animals, many of which are found no where else in the world. Altogether, our environment provides for many of our needs, attracts tourists, and keeps our community healthy.