Carl T.C. Gutierrez

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Carl T.C. Gutierrez bigraphy, stories - Governor of Guam

Carl T.C. Gutierrez : biography

October 15, 1941 –

Carl Tommy Cruz Gutierrez (born on October 15, 1941) is a Guamanian politician. He served as the 5th Governor of Guam from 1995 to 2003.

He has served at total of nine terms in the Legislature of Guam and ran unsuccessfully for Governor in 1978 (As an Independent with running mate Dr. Joe Dizon), and again in 1986. Gutierrez was defeated by Governor Ricardo J. Bordallo and Lieutenant Governor Edward D. Reyes in 1986. He won in the 1994 gubernatiorial election with his running mate U.S. Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo, the popular widow of former Governor Ricardo Bordallo. Gutierrez-Bordallo defeated Republican Senators Tommy Tanaka and Doris Flores Brooks.

Governor Gutierrez and Lt. Governor Bordallo were re-elected to a second, four-year term in 1998. He retired in January 2003 after serving eight years as Governor of Guam, eighteen years as senator and 8 years as a gov’t of Guam Data Processing Manager.

Governor of Guam (1995–2003)

First Gutierrez-Bordallo term

In 1994 he teamed with Senator Madeleine Bordallo, Ricky’s widow, to run for the island’s highest office once more on a platform of “Helping the People of Guam,” they won by a landslide. He focused his work in the areas of infrastructure so that all the marginalized people will be brought into the 20th century before it went out and also pushing for economic development by aggressively completing 85% of his Vision 2001 plan by the end of 1999. Despite a super majority Republican Legislature that opposed virtually every executive initiative, the Gutierrez-Bordallo administration was successful in guiding the island through the rough waters of economic downturns throughout the region.

Second Gutierrez-Bordallo term

In the 1998 Gubernatorial election against former governor Joe Ada, an election challenge by Ada/Camacho went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The decision by the Supreme court was 9-0 in favor of Gutierrez/Bordallo thus ending the Republican challenge. Gutierrez’s credibility and integrity have been under constant attack by those who oppose him and his style of leadership. Beginning when he was still in office, efforts are continuing to try and find him guilty of purported crimes. He has never been found guilty of any crime winning all of his cases that went to trial. The other cases were thrown out of court because they had no merits.

His second term in office was marked by political instability caused by the 1998 election challenges, a super majority Republican (12-3) Guam Legislature, an unsuccessful Recall Movement in 2000 after the Supreme court decision came out giving Gutierrez/Bordallo the win, the "rolling" power outages left behind by the Ada/Blas administration, the destruction of the island’s infrastructure by Supertyphoons Chata’an, Paka, and Pongsona. The tourism economy was also severely affected by the crash of Korean Air Flight 801 on August 6, 1997. During the rescue efforts, Gutierrez was one of the first responders and the first to reach the burning plane along with Dep. Fire Chief Chuck Sanchez and his security police officer Cecil Sulla. Gutierrez was credited with saving several lives, including 11 year-old Rika Matsuda "," Government of Guam and Barry Small, an injured helicopter mechanic from New Zealand, who called Governor Gutierrez a "Hero." Gutierrez received the Eagle Award, the highest award given to a civilian by the U.S. National Guard Bureau. He was recognized by the governments of Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Air Force and marriage

Gutierrez enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Gutierrez married Geraldine Chance “Geri” Torres, on September 7, 1963 after a 6-month courtship. Gutierrez and Geri are practicing Roman Catholics, involved in many church organizations and activities. They have three children, Carla, Tommy and Hannah, and four grandchildren, Lily, Livia, Seth and Liam.

2010 election

Gutierrez ran for governor again in the 2010 Guam election with Senator Frank Blas Aguon Jr. They ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, but were defeated in the general election by 487 votes by the current Governor Eddie Calvo. Although a recount was ordered, the results stood. Gutierrez would go on to sue to challenge the recount. In February 2012 his running mate Frank Aguon asked to remove himself from the election lawsuit.Steve Limtiaco, "Aguon wants out of suit, Gutierrez to continue challenging 2010 election," February 23, 2012, Pacific Daily News, http://www.guampdn.com/article/20120223/NEWS01/202230321/Aguon-wants-out-suit-Gutierrez-continue-challenging-2010-election?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage In early April 2012, Former Governor Carl Guiterrez announced that he will not run for congress representing Guam. This was a result of Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo following through with her commitment to ask U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Guam U.S. Attorney Alicia Limtiaco to investigate the irregularities that were found by the Guam Election Commission in the 2010 general election.Clynt Ridgell,"VIDEO: Gutierrez Will Not Run for Congress; Endorses Congresswoman Bordallo Instead," May 04, 2012, Pacific News Center, http://pacificnewscenter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23321:video-gutierrez-will-not-run-for-congress-instead-endorses-madeleine&catid=45:guam-news&Itemid=156