HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — Lawmakers on Monday shot down an attempt to add the measure abolishing the Sinajana vice mayor position onto the session agenda, Bill 230-37.
Sen. William Parkinson, the measure’s author, moved to place it on the bottom of the agenda so that it could possibly be debated in session next week after the public has had five days to review the committee report on the bill.
“It is important that we move swiftly on this matter before the Guam Election Commission holds a special election to fill the vacancy for Sinajana vice mayor,” Parkinson said Monday.
The vacancy was left behind by the late Rudy Iriarte, who died in early January following a long battle with diabetes.
His death occurred more than 240 days before a general election. By law, that requires a special election to fill the vacancy, which is scheduled to take place March 9.
According to GEC Executive Director Maria Pangelinan, the special election will cost about $25,000. Expenses will include stipends for precinct officials, ballot production, transportation, security and mandated public notices.
The first date for publication will be Feb. 8, the same day that candidate packets are due. Two packets had been picked up as of Friday.
Bill 230 had a public hearing just last week, after the session agenda was already developed. The measure is intended to save money by eliminating the Sinajana vice mayor position, as well as to save money by avoiding the special election – if enacted soon enough.
Sen. Telo Taitague supported Parkinson’s motion Monday, stating that she attended the public hearing on Bill 230, and she considered the measure an emergency because initial spending on the special election will take place Feb. 8.
“We don’t start (next) session until the end of February. We’ve had both the election commission (at the public hearing), we had the mayor of Sinajana there explaining the importance and how this needs to be rushed. The only reason the bill wasn’t heard earlier is because (we were) honoring Vice Mayor Iriarte, who, by the way, also agreed that a vice mayor should not be placed in Sinajana because of the population count,” Taitague said.
Sen. Thomas Fisher objected to Parkinson’s motion. Only Parkinson, Taitague and Sen. Dwayne San Nicolas voted for the motion, falling far short of the eight votes needed to pass.
Parkinson stated in a press release after the vote that he would try again to place Bill 230 on the agenda at a later time during the January session.
“If we wait to abolish this position until the end of February, we will incur election expenses for a position we are going to eliminate. I’m trying to eliminate the wasted cost of printing all these ballots and the cost of setting up a special election,” Parkinson stated in the release.
“I hope that after reading the committee report on the bill, the rest of my colleagues will have a change of heart. This was Vice Mayor Rudy’s last wish, and I hope to honor that wish,” the senator added.
Other measures
Following the decision on Bill 230, lawmakers went on to discuss two measures Monday morning: Bill 30-37 and Bill 116-37.
Bill 30 would prohibit people convicted of official misconduct from being employed in the government of Guam.
Bill 116-37 relates to enforcement capabilities and best practices regarding mining and quarrying activities.
Both measures were added to the third reading file for later voting.
Following debate on Bill 116, the office of Speaker Therese Terlaje, the measure’s author, stated in a press release that the bill underwent years of collaborative research involving government regulators, stakeholders and dedicated professionals.
“This initiative responds to mounting concerns about mining operations in Guam, particularly those operating under permits for clearing and grading,” the release stated.
“With a surge in development projects, including those for the Department of Defense, Speaker Terlaje, chairperson of the committee on land, recognized the heightened value of aggregate, crucial for both military and local developments and the heightened pressure on agencies to issue permits. This bill closes loopholes in Guam law to better regulate operations where projects permitted for clearing and grading were unmistakably operating as quarries,” the release added.
The Legislature in session at the Guam Congress Building in Hagåtña on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024.
