The Democratic Party’s gubernatorial team took snipes at the Republican tandem of Sens. Eddie Calvo and Ray Tenorio who held their rally at the same time across from the Ricardo J. Bordallo Governor’s Complex.
“The Calvo/Tenorio team is further down, close to Adelup; that’s the closest they are going to get to Adelup,” Aguon told the crowd.
Gutierrez told the crowd that the people of Guam shouldn’t trust people who are “just practicing politics,” and that Adelup needs a governor who has a long history in politics and who has the knack for running a government.
Gutierrez took a snipe at the Republican team, saying those attending the Calvo-Tenorio rally are mostly employees of the Calvo Enterprise and their attendance to the political rally was mandatory.
Gutierrez also claimed that the Calvo/Tenorio team demonstrated their ignorance when it came to the grassroots level because they didn’t know the names of their village leaders.
Gutierrez then walked off the stage and into the crowd saying, “This is how you serve people. You draw close to the people.”
With smiles on their faces, Gutierrez and Aguon told supporters, “You’re still the one,” a campaign slogan Gutierrez penned during his second gubernatorial campaign in 1998 and which has become his familiar trademark.
Gutierrez promised that he and Aguon, if elected, would take care of the people and island of Guam.
Hundreds of supporters donned the familiar yellow and maroon T-shirts as they lined up to eat at the fiesta-style food tables that were placed strategically within the rally site. Just as many thronged the curbside, waving to motorists as they passed by.
“I’m here and my family’s here to support Carl and Frank because they both care about the grassroots — people who live paycheck to paycheck and have to struggle daily to make ends meet,” said Peter Taimanglo, a supporter. “The other team doesn’t know what that means. They’ve never had to worry about paying bills or what it feels like to have your water or power cut because you didn’t pay the bill. They’ve never had to worry about putting food on the table for their kids. Carl and Frank are for the grassroots and the grassroots know that.”
Many supporters shared stories during the days that Carl Gutierrez was governor.
“He helped me when I couldn’t afford to pay my power bill. Auntie Geri and People Helping People helped me pay my bill. Even now, I know that if I need help, they’ll be there for me,” said one supporter.
A crowd from the Palauan community said that “Carl Gutierrez is like a brother to our island and our people. He helps everyone and isn’t prejudiced. We know that if Carl and Frank win, they’ll help everybody, rich and poor.”
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