Stronger? Republicans don't think so

 By Mar-Vic Cagurangan

 Republican lawmakers said Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero’s glowing review of her administration’s seven-year balance sheet is not reflected in the quality of life on Guam, where housing is unaffordable, access to health care remains limited and people don’t feel safe out in the streets.

In her state of the island address, the governor said the government’s fiscal position is marked by deficit-turned-surplus, low debt service and a Rainy Fund replenished with real cash.

The governor’s election-year state of the island address is a self-assessment of her performance in office and a pitch for the retention of the Democratic Party’s rule. For the Republican Party, the governor’s report card is a comparative reference for its own campaign.

“True progress is not measured solely by numbers on a balance sheet,” said Vice Speaker Tony Ada, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor.

“Too many families continue to struggle with the escalating cost of living. Housing prices have soared beyond the reach of many young families, and small businesses face overwhelming operating costs,” Ada said, adding that solutions were not presented.

“While the governor highlighted important efforts, I had hoped for more focus on strengthening public safety, especially in confronting Guam’s drug epidemic through enforcement, treatment, and prevention,” Ada said.

He said the governor fell short of “empowering schools with flexibility to meet the diverse needs of their students, while maintaining high standards and providing safe, supportive environments for all children.”

Sen. Joe San Agustin, a Democratic candidate for governor and one of the governor’s loyal allies in the legislature, said his engagements with Guam residents—families, small businesses, manåmko, veterans and youth—were reminders of the many challenges still facing the island.

San Agustin said he and his running mate, former Sen Dwayne San Nicolas, would “listen, work together and focus on practical solutions that strengthen our economy, support our families and improve quality of life in every village.”

He said their combined backgrounds in law enforcement, education support, military services, government operations and public services allow them to “understand our community, and the needs of bringing public services to where they are needed.”

Sen. Vincent Borja, a Republican, said the governor’s discussion on funds for education called for an honest public conversation.

“While the address suggested financial strain in supporting education, the Guam Department of Education currently holds an accumulated surplus of approximately $77 million,” Borja said.

“The existence of such a surplus does not diminish the needs of our schools, but it does demand accuracy and transparency when describing fiscal limitations,” he added.

Borja argued that budget figures alone do not resolve the structural, operational and accountability challenges that continue to affect educational outcomes.

“Financial resources must be paired with effective management, timely expenditures, and measurable performance improvements,” he said.

Sen. Shawn Gumataotao, a Republican, said the governor’s claim that “Guam is better today than seven years ago” sparked several questions that cast doubts on her performance.

“Why is it that visitor arrivals remain well below pre-pandemic levels? Why does it seem like we have more homeless Guamanians, illegal drugs, abandoned vehicles, stray dogs and many more challenges today than seven years ago?

“Why hasn’t a new hospital been built during the last seven years? Why are GMH facility repairs happening only during the final year of this administration?

“Has a new Simon Sanchez High School been built? Why does the list of businesses shutting their doors continue to grow while the administration is reportedly proposing to increase the cost of government by an additional $90 million next fiscal year? Is our collective priority to grow the government instead of supporting economic growth? I say No!” Gumataotao said.

Rallying for the governor, Democratic Sen. Will Parkinson said the “loudest critics today are some of the same people who were in charge when Guam was drowning in deficits. The contrast could not be clearer.”

He said deficit elimination, prompt tax refund release and power bill cuts were “real results.”

“You can dislike the governor, but you cannot erase the results. Math is stubborn like that,” Parkinson said.

“Opposition is easy when all you do is obstruct and stall. Progress comes from those willing to fight to get things built, and Gov. Leon Guerrero has done exactly that. The people of Guam deserve results,” he added.

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