Carl T.C. Gutierrez

Carl Tommy Cruz Gutierrez (born on October 15, 1941) is an American politician from Guam.

He has served at total of 10 terms in the Guam Legislature 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, twenty years as senator.

Childhood

Born in Agaña Heights, Gutierrez was the 4th of 11 children born to Tomas Taitano Gutierrez and Rita Benavente Cruz. As a young child during World War II, he endured the horrors of the Manenggon Concentration Camp, and alongside his mother and other captive Chamorros he was among those who were rescued by American soldiers during the liberation of Guam.

When Gutierrez was just a boy his father died, and his mother had a difficult time raising such a large family by herself. When a friend offered to help Gutierrez finish high school on the mainland, Gutierrez took advantage of the opportunity. He graduated from South San Francisco High School in California in 1960.

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. He has three children, Carla, Tommy and Hannah, and three grandchildren, Lily, Livia and Seth.

Professional career

Following his tour in the Air Force, Gutierrez entered into the business world, eventually forming CarlTom Construction Company. Gutierrez spent nine years as a government of Guam data processing manager. He became interested in the world of politics and assisted former Democratic Governor Ricardo J. “Ricky” Bordallo in one of his campaigns. Eventually Ricky, Evelyn and others urged him to run for elected office.

His political career began in 1972 when he was elected at large to the 12th Guam Legislature as a Democrat. He was selected to serve as chairman of the Committee on Housing and Urban Development in the first of what eventually became nine terms as a Senator. He created the Guam Youth Congress in his first term.

His long history of public service also includes election as President of Guam’s first Constitutional Convention and employment as a Computer Data Processing Specialists at the Government of Guam’s Department of Administration. In 1977, by authorization of Federal Law and Local Law, Gutierrez was elected to the First Constitutional Convention (authorized by federal law) and was elected by his colleagues to preside. A Constitution was drafted and approved by US President Jimmy Carter and the U.S. Congress but was later not ratified by the Guamanians in 1979. In 1996 Gutierrez served as a member of the Clinton-Gore National Finance Committee, working closely with Democratic National Committee Chairman, Don Fowler, and Terry McAuliffe. With Gutierrez at the helm, Guam raised more money for the Clinton-Gore re-election campaign per capita than any other corporation, state or organization. In November, 2006, he was awarded the Gusi Peace Prize for political achievement in the Republic of the Philippines by president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Among the other recipients was former Philippine president Fidel V. Ramos.

Boundary changes

In 1978, the Republican majority had redrawn electoral districts for the island to ensure their continued dominance. Realising he had no chance to win a fourth term, Gutierrez ran for the office of Governor as an independent, with Dr. Joe Dizon as his running mate. Nevertheless, Republicans maintained their control of the Legislature and the Gutierrez-Dizon ticket lost.

In 1980, Gutierrez returned to the Legislature successfully unseating the incumbent Republican Senator in his district.

Four years after the senatorial districting plan for Guam was put in place in 1978, the courts ruled that it violated the principle of “one man, one vote”. As a result, Gutierrez and the Democrats regained the Legislature and he was elected Speaker of the Legislature for two terms.

In 1986, Gutierrez again ran for Governor against Bordallo, the party icon that had encouraged Gutierrez to get into politics in the first place. Gutierrez and Senator John P. Aguon lost to Governor Bordallo and Lt. Governor Eddie Reyes in the primary election.

Gutierrez returned to the Legislature in 1988 and served three successive terms before entering the gubernatorial sweepstakes once more. Of his nine total terms, he served three as Chairman of the powerful Committee on Ways and Means, and was twice elected by his colleagues to be Speaker of the Legislature. Other committee assignments included several terms as Vice Chairman of the Committee on Rules and the Committee on Tourism and Transportation. Gutierrez wrote or co-sponsored 270 Public Laws during his 18 years as Senator.

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 and economic development by aggressively completing 85% of his Vision 2001 plan by the end of his term in 1998.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.

Controversial 1998 Election

In 1998 they were re-elected, but not without controversy: there were widespread allegations of fraud alleged to have been committed by the Democrats. Allegations of dead people voting and other inconsistencies were numerous. The Courts of Guam later rejected the allegations as unfounded after a costly trial.Although the Democratic team had a victory margin of over 3,000 votes, the Republicans challenged the results as short of the majority, and the District Court of Guam ruled in favor of a run-off election. The case was taken to the U.S. Supreme Court, resulting in the loss ( 9-0 ) by Republican challengers. In 2006, an article appearing in the Wall Street Journal revealed that convicted republican lobbyist Jack Abrahamoff and the National Republic Committee had been involved in an aggressive campaign to defeat Gutierrez. Gutierrez was a major fundraiser in the 1996 Clinton Gore Campaign and Democratic National Committee.

econd Gutierrez-Bordallo term

In the 1998 Gubernatorial election against former governor Joe Ada, thus ending the Republican challenge.The Republicans continued to hold control of the Legislature, and they continued to block and thwart the administration’s initiatives and efforts. Carl’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 this day to find him guilty of nonexistent crimes. He has never been found guilty of any crime.

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, and 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 [" [http://ns.gov.gu/guam/miracle/ Korean Air Survivor - Rika's Miracle] ," "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. Jesus C. Taitingfong, a Guamanian firefighter, stated that he believes that Gutierrez exaggerated his contribution to the rescue operation and used the news story as a political advantage. [" [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19970811/ai_n14120339 Guam's governor seizes main chance] ," "The Independent", August 11, 1997]

Corruption charges

After leaving office, he was indicted by Guam Attorney-General Douglas Moylan( Moylan was a bitter political enemy while he served as Legislative Counsel to the Republican Legislature while Gutierrez was governor) on numerous political corruption charges, along with nearly a dozen of his former cabinet officials by both the Federal as well as the local governments. Gutierrez has been charged in local courts over 150 times but has not been convicted. Gutierrez was never indicted in Federal Court.

2006 election

Gutierrez ran for governor again in the 2006 Democratic primary with Senator and former Chief Justice Benjamin Cruz against former Delegate Robert Underwood and Senator Frank Blas Aguon. The Gutierrez-Cruz ticket lost the primary.

References