Blas-Okada team vows leadership with 'clear direction'

 By Pacific Island Times News Staff

The gubernatorial team of Frank Blas Jr. and Mary Okada officially set in motion their campaign to seek the Republican Party’s nomination, promising a “focused leadership with clear direction.”

Blas, speaker of the 38^th Guam Legislature, said Guam needs “leaders who see challenges not as roadblocks, but as opportunities to innovate; leaders who listen deeply to our people and turn shared ideas into coordinated action.”

Blas and Okada officially announced their candidacy on Tuesday in front of a large crowd at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Tumon.

They will run against Vice Speaker Tony Ada and his running mate EJ Calvo at the Aug. 1 Republican primary.

“Guam’s potential is extraordinary — waiting, ready, asking only for the chance to be unlocked,” said Blas, who has been in public service for 40 years. He is the son of the late former Lt. Gov. Frank Blas.

“What we need now is the opportunity to lead and to partner with our community in a way that elevates every voice and turns shared hope into real progress,” he added.

Okada, the retiring president of the Guam Community College, entered politics for the first time.

Okada noted Guam’s recurring challenges, such as the high cost of living, prohibitive health care costs, and schools under pressure, which she said require more than good intentions.

“They require knowledge. They require management,” she said. “They require leadership that understands how systems actually function — and how to fix them when they don’t.”

Okada highlighted her experience in managing crises during her more than two decades working as an educator and administrator and healthcare leader.

“I have overseen complex organizations, managed multi-million-dollar budgets, and worked directly with frontline professionals to improve outcomes for patients, students and families,” she said.

Blas said the legislature has passed laws and appropriations to address Guam’s challenges.

“But the truth is simple: what we lack is execution,” he said. “Together, Mary and I represent leadership that is not claimed — it is earned. Earned through experience, through sacrifice and through years of service to our island.”

“This campaign is not about ambition. It is about responsibility. It is about strengthening our communities and delivering results that people can see and feel in their daily lives," Okada said.

Subscribe to

our monthly

digital edition