From the PNC Website:
Guam - Carl Gutierrez and Gary Gumataotao tonight made official what the whole island has known since at least the start of this month. They are the Democratic Gubernatorial team for Governor and Lt. Governor.
They made it official before a crowd of supporters at the Sinajana home of the former two-term Governor.
"Look at the feeling tonight," said Gutierrez. "Look at the hearts coming here. Your going to see over a thousand people here tonight."
They're getting a late start, against a formidable incumbent team, that has deep pockets. But Gutierrez said he is not fazed, and expressed confidence in victory.
"The campaign's not late. We don't have to file until July 1st. We don't have as much money as the other side does .. but we don't need it. We got legs. We got volunteers ... I'm more than confident," he said.
Referring to Dave Brat's recent defeat of former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Gutierrez said "We're going to replicate what happened to Cantor," by running a grass roots campaign, in the homes and villages around the island.
Later in the evening, Gutierrez took the stage, doing a 2-step as he did, to the familiar campaign theme song "Your Still the One."
"You know I won't be able to live with myself if I don't step up to the fight," declared Gutierrez. "This is a fight that I want to be able to continue until the day I die ... I am the last grass roots Governor your going to ever see."
Democratic Lt. Gubernitorial candidiate Gary Gumataotao:
When he took the microphone, in his first public comments on his candidacy for Lt. Governor, Gary Gumataotao declared "I have a passion for the people, just like Governor Gutierrez. We're a team. I'll back him 100% because its all for you. That's the only reason I'm running. I guarantee you its not for the money and its not for the ego," he said.
Gumataotao spoke about the need to create more jobs.
"The people of Guam are suffering right now," he said. "I have people that come to see me everyday because they have no money, because they have no job. Don't tell me times are better, because they're not. There better for some people," said Gumataotao. "People need jobs, they need to be paid fair wages."
And he suggested that there was some discontent in the island's business community, accusing the Calvo Administration of favoring some, over others, in the awarding of contracts.
"Business people want to make money. They don't like it when they are unfairly treated because somebody else gets the contract, somebody else gets the bid, somebody else is fixing it because its only going into one pocket," he said.
"You see the signs out they say "The Right Direction'. I'll tell you the right direction is for them to leave Adelup," he said.
Perez and Underwood Chair and Vice-Chair of the Campaign:
Kin Perez, who recently retired as Congresswoman Bordallo's Senior Policy Advisor has taken on the role of campaign Chairman for the Gutierrez/Gumataotao ticket. Vice Chair is former DOE Superintendent Nerissa Underwood who, Perez said, has agreed to make a run for the Legislature.
Incumbent Democratic Senators also took the stage. Speaker Judi Won Pat, Vice-Speaker B.J. Cruz, Senators Rory Respicio, Frank Aguon Jr., Tom Ada, Mike San Nicolas made remarks. Former Senator Adolpho Palacios and Judi Guthertz spoke as well, along with new comers like Attorney John Terlaje who is running for the Legislature and Matt Areto, who is challenging Congresswoman Bordallo for her seat.
Many of them spoke about what they said was the Democratic Party's renewed commitment to party unity. Notable in that regard was the presence of former Party Chairman Tony Charfarous, who did not support Gutierrez in the last campaign.
Tonight, Charfauros took the stage and pledged his support. "I'm sure many of you are surprised that I'm here," he said.
"I'm here because I want to make sure that the Democratic party wins Adelup," said Charfauros.
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