Rep. Heinz A. Hofschneider and his running mate Speaker Arnold I. Palacios, and former Gov. Juan N. Babauta and his running mate, Board of Education member Galvin S. Deleon Guerrero, condemned the incidents.
Deleon Guerrero said it appears that only the campaign materials of GOP candidates are being vandalized and destroyed.
Ed Guerrero, the campaign manager of the John & Galvin ticket, described the incident as “very unfortunate…especially so early in the campaign.”
“We, however, remain committed to running a clean and civil campaign and will continue to encourage our supporters to do the same,” he said in a statement.
Juan S. Tenorio, the treasurer of the Committee to Elect Hofschneider and Palacios, said he is deeply disappointed with the destruction of the campaign materials.
“There can be no good reason for this kind of conduct. This campaign must be run in a professional and respectful way — there is no place for this kind of behavior in any election,” he said in a separate statement.
Tenorio, the former chairman of the Commonwealth Development Authority, said a clean and open election campaign is a very important part of the democratic process that should be honored and respected.
“The Hofschneider-Palacios team and, I am sure, the other teams, do not condone this kind of action either,” said Tenorio and urged all the gubernatorial teams to join in a commitment to conduct a clean and open campaign.
“Elections are an extremely important democratic process and should not be marred by individual actions of petty crime. It is very important that all the parties in this campaign commit to run a clean and open campaign and I have no doubt the other candidates will join us in roundly condemning these acts of vandalism,” he added.
The GOP is scheduled to hold an open primary on June 27.
The winner will be the party’s standard bearer in the Nov. 7 gubernatorial election.
The ruling Covenant Party has already endorsed incumbent Gov. Benigno R. Fitial with Finance Secretary Eloy Inos as his running mate.
There are two Independent gubernatorial teams — former Sen. Juan T. Guerrero whose running mate is House Floor Leader Joseph N. Camacho; and former Sen. Ramon S. Deleon Guerrero, who is running with former Education Commissioner David M. Borja.
