Rector transmitted his letter of resignation to Speaker Judi Won Pat yesterday afternoon at 5:10 p.m.
During a press conference held yesterday afternoon in the legislative building’s public hearing room, Rector thanked the 13,466 people who voted for him and said it was an honor and a privilege to serve the people of Guam.
Rector said shortly after receiving the official documents from the California Department of Justice that were in the possession of the Guam Police Department and subpoenaed by the Legislative Committee on Ethics and Standards, he learned that his criminal record was not expunged as he had thought.
Rector reiterated that he had pleaded guilty to a burglary misdemeanor.
He said he had learned that his legislative colleagues were ready to put forth a motion on the floor during this week’s legislative session to vote him out and that they had the votes to do it.
Rector said he could fight it in court, but felt that it wouldn’t help anyone and would only cause turmoil in the Legislature and damage the Democratic Party.
“That wouldn’t be good for anybody and would be unfair to the people of Guam,” he said.
Rector thanked his staff and said his resignation will protect them.
“They and their families certainly shouldn’t suffer because I couldn’t manage to keep records for almost 30 years,” he said.
According to Rector, he will continue fighting for equality of life for the working families of Guam and he will do this as president of the Guam Federation of Teachers.
He insisted that he did not lie on the Guam Election Commission affidavits which asked if he was ever convicted of a crime.
“I don’t believe I lied and in good conscience, like I said, [I thought my record] was all expunged,” said Rector.
Asked if he planned to run again in the future, Rector said: “I don’t know. [But] now that we have the records, I can get my attorneys to begin the process of having them expunged.”
He said his Democratic colleagues did not force him to resign.
Speaker Won Pat said Rector did the right thing.
“I commend him and I appreciate what he’s done. It took a lot of courage to do this and the man was afforded the dignity to walk out here with his head held high. He’s done some good in his service to the people of Guam, the working class, as he refers to them.”
