Party insiders said both camps are gearing up for the Guam delegate race in 2012 and both are considering running for the party chair, since they believe it will boost their votes for the delegate race and unite the party.
Bordallo supporters say they will encourage her to run as party chair, and when they have the opportunity, they will speak with her. Bordallo is currently on-island meeting with party leaders and supporters to gain support for the upcoming delegate race.
A Bordallo supporter said Vice Speaker Benjamin J.F. Cruz was asked to run as vice chair, but he declined.
Gutierrez supporters are also trying to convince him to run as party chair and suggest Gloria B. Nelson as his running mate for vice chair. Nelson said she has agreed to spearhead the women’s Democratic Club, of which she is president.
Gutierrez supporters are encouraging him to run against Bordallo in the delegate race, saying she “abandoned” the party in the last election and supported the Republican team Gov. Eddie B. Calvo and Lt. Gov. Ray Tenorio who narrowly defeated Gutierrez and then-Sen. Frank Aguon.
“That’s ridiculous and not true,” said former party chairman Tony Charfauros.
But he said the Democratic Party is fractured and under the current leadership of former Sen. Pilar Lujan, the party has diminished. Charfauros blamed this on Gutierrez, saying Lujan ran and won with Gutierrez backing her up so he could control the party.
