ELECTED
OFFICIALS' 2004 RESOLUTIONS
Pacific Daily News
www.guampdn.com
Here are some elected officials' New Year's resolutions related to their
public positions:
ADMINISTRATION
• Gov. Felix Camacho:
"To take ownership of our island. To own our communities. To own
our destiny as a people, with a resolve to, once and for all, own the
direction of our lives, guided only by the hands of God embedded in a
culture of freedom, tradition, justice and peace."
• Lt. Gov. Kaleo Moylan:
"I resolve to aggressively pursue solutions to our island's infrastructure
problems through private-sector participation that enhance the quality
of life for our residents and promote economic development for our island
as well as see the completion of our government's reorganization before
the end of 2004."
• Attorney General Douglas Moylan:
"Redouble my efforts as a public servant to continue protecting the
public interest, setting uniform legal policy throughout the government
of Guam and to further reduce taxpayer expenditures for private attorneys
throughout the government."
GUAM LEGISLATURE
• Vice Speaker Frank Aguon, Jr., D-Yona:
"To continue the trend and make sure we focus on further cost reductions
and balancing the budget, going into the next fiscal year."
• Sen. Tina Muña-Barnes, D-Mangilao:
"As one who has oversight of community, culture, recreation and public
broadcasting, I'd like to continue introducing legislation promoting and
preserving our island's culture and family values."
• Sen. Joanne Brown, R-Chalan Pago/Ordot:
"I think we just need to work toward more accountability and transparency
in the government for the upcoming year."
• Sen. Randall Cunliffe, D-Tamuning, said he does not make New
Year's resolutions.
• Sen. Carmen Fernandez, D-Yona:
"To continue to grow support and outreach for the education of our
children and to build closer working relationships between the Department
of Education, Guam Community College and the University of Guam."
• Sen. Mark Forbes, R-Sinajana, was unable to respond as he is
off island for the holidays.
• Sen. Larry Kasperbauer, R-Dededo:
"I'd like to get a bill passed that will provide the financing to
construct some new schools and repair some existing schools."
• Sen. Robert Klitzkie, R-Yigo:
"For the new year, my priorities are going to be the same -- education,
public health and public safety. Those have to be our priorities for the
short term and the long term."
• Sen. Lou Leon Guerrero, D-Tamuning:
"As a public official, my New Year's resolution is to continue to
be focused on the hard work ahead of us so that we can continue to provide
good government for our people."
• Sen. Jesse Lujan, R-Tamuning:
"For the upcoming year, I will continue to work toward 'open skies'
for our island, the 'Philippines-Guam' visa waiver and the Earned Income
Tax Credit."
• Speaker Ben Pangelinan, D-Barrigada:
"My resolution for the new year would be to ... set good policy in
place to resolve those matters. I'm talking about economic stimulation,
the investment in infrastructure, in our education, in our utilities and
in our roads."
• Sen. John Quinata, D-Talofofo:
"Hopefully to continue moving forward in getting a stable economy
here in Guam and to focus on my side to get more funding and finding more
funding for the law enforcement side of the house and helping our tourism
industry out."
• Sen. Rory Respicio, D-Chalan Pago/Ordot:
"My resolution is for more environmental initiatives -- the protection
of the coral reefs and securing the closure of Ordot Dump as well as bringing
a stronger focus on providing a living wage for working families and pushing
for the privatization of GTA and having the proceeds earmarked for the
needs of DOE."
• Sen. Toni Sanford, D-Agana Heights:
"My resolution is to spend more quality time with my family and to
resolve to continue to work toward what our people are looking for --
basically, a more responsive and productive government."
• Sen. Ray Tenorio, R-Yigo:
"My resolution is ... to work hard and see how we can make improvements
toward education, public safety and the health-care needs for the people
and to make sure that the budget reflects the priorities of those core
services."
CONSOLIDATED COMMISSION ON UTILITIES
• Commissioner Vince Camacho:
"No. 1 is to ensure the privatization goes very well for the people
of Guam and two and three is to ensure the financial viability of both
utilities for the island."
• Commissioner Judith Guthertz:
"My resolution is to ensure that whatever decisions are made by the
commission are in the best interest of all the people of Guam, and that
I will carefully scrutinize any and all proposals involving privatization."
• Commissioner Benigno Palomo:
"As a member of the CCU, I resolve to assist in every way possible
to bring pride and efficiency back to GWA by eliminating waste and providing
resources for training programs and incentive for good work."
• Chairman Simon Sanchez:
"My resolution is to continue to work to have the utilities provide
improved excellent service to ratepayers at the lowest possible cost to
the ratepayers."
• Commissioner Frank Shimizu was unable to respond as he is off
island for the holidays.
EDUCATION POLICY BOARD
• Board member Tomas Barcinas:
"I'm going to do my (best) to do more for our schoolchildren as a
board member. Here's an example, this year we wanted to get $166 million
for education but we only got $130-some million."
• Board member Patricia Bennett:
"To put more energy into updating and improving board policies and
to encourage intelligent, respectable, committed community members to
run for the education policy board next year."
• Board member Jeni Ann Flores:
"(This) year we're going to work smarter. We're going to participate
more and be proactive instead of being reactive. On a personal note, I
would like to devote a little more time to my efforts here at DOE."
• Chairman Romeo Hernandez:
"I want to work with the superintendent (of the Education Department,
Juan Flores) to help the department and support all the employees and
make sure he provides the services that everyone expects them to provide.
• Board member Beth McClure:
"I want to work together harmoniously, the board, the teachers, Department
of Education administration, and have an improved education system."
• Vice Chairman Jose Nededog:
"I just want to continue making things work the way they should for
the good of the public schoolchildren."
• Board member Rosa Salas Palomo:
"I have been pretty involved with the text books. ... I would like
to be more involved with (encouraging parental involvement and getting
training for substitute teachers). I want to be able to tell my constituents
that I did that."
• Board member Francis Toves could not be reached as of press time.
• Board member Garland Wilhite:
"Resolve the (DOE contract) negotiation problems so that (this) year
everything runs smoothly."
Pacific Daily News staff Steve Limtiaco, Mark-Alexander Pieper and Oyaol
Ngirairikl contributed to this report.
This article was published with the permission of the publisher of the
Pacific Daily News, Guam. Any republication of this article without the
explicit permission of the Pacific Daily News is in violation of federal
copyright laws.
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