'Explain your record, answer difficult questions:' Torres camp calls for congressional face-off; Moylan declines

James Moylan and Mary Torres

By Pacific Island Times News Staff

Former Sen. Mary C. Torres is challenging Del. James Moylan to a series of debates ahead of the Aug. 1 Republican primary, saying voters deserve the opportunity to hear both candidates discuss the issues facing Guam and its future.

Moylan, however, declined a debate, citing a "longstanding Republican principle emphasizing party unity and a continued focus on delivering results for Guam."

"Debates are not about politicians," the Torres campaign said. "They are about the people.  They are about whether those asking for your vote are willing to stand before the public, explain their record and answer difficult questions."

In response, Moylan said, "I prefer to let my record speak for itself and will continue focusing my energy on advancing conservative priorities, delivering results for the people of Guam, and earning the continued trust of our community through my work in Congress."

Guam's exclusion from the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act expansion bill and the federal Supplemental Income program are among the key issues on the campaign trail.

James Moylan

"Why is our representative to Washington the only delegate in Guam history to never author a law in four years?" the Torres campaign asked. "Ronald Reagan understood that accountability to the people mattered more than protecting politicians from scrutiny."

The campaign recalled that Reagan challenged a sitting Republican president in 1976 because he believed voters deserved a real choice. And in 1980, Reagan stood on the Republican primary debate stage because he understood leadership meant trusting voters enough to hear the arguments, weigh the answers, and decide for themselves who was prepared to lead.

The people of Guam deserve that same opportunity, the campaign added.

Moylan, however, viewed Reagan through a different lens.

“In keeping with a long-held Republican principle championed by President Ronald Reagan, I believe our party is strongest when we remain united and focused on the mission ahead,” he said.

Moylan said Reagan often referenced the Republican Eleventh Commandment: “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.”

"The principle has historically served as a reminder that internal division can weaken the party’s ability to effectively advance conservative priorities," Moylan said.

In a letter sent to Moylan’s camp on Tuesday, the Torres campaign said the debates would allow the public to evaluate each candidate’s priorities.

“We believe democracy works best when voters have the opportunity to hear directly from the people asking to represent them,” the campaign wrote. “Open, in-person debates encourage public participation by bringing these conversations into the community.”

The campaign also emphasized the importance of debates in a Republican primary contest, “giving voters the chance to hear both candidates engage on the issues, discuss competing ideas, and articulate their vision for Guam and its future,” the letter states.

The Torres campaign additionally requested that at least one debate include a CHamoru-speaking format or component, consistent with past Guam election traditions.

“Our language and culture are central to who we are as a people, and they deserve a place in this important democratic conversation,” the campaign wrote.

The campaign said it is willing to work collaboratively with Moylan’s campaign, debate hosts, and Republican Party leadership to coordinate dates and formats for all parties involved.

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On May 21, Torres will speak before the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, along with former U.S. Attorney Alicia Limtiaco, the Democratic Party's lone candidate for Congress, at the organization's “Members in Action” Q&A forum series.

"As candidates in this year’s congressional primary, we believe democracy works best when voters hear directly from the people asking to represent them. Open, in-person debates encourage public participation by bringing these conversations into our community," the Torres campaign said.

"As this is a Republican primary, we also believe these debates are important for our party—giving voters the chance to hear both candidates engage on the issues, discuss competing ideas, and articulate their vision for Guam and its future," it added.

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