A NUMBER of people are still buzzing over the series of “summit” meetings held by former Gov. Carl T.C. Gutierrez, Bank of Guam President Lou Leon Guerrero, and former Lt. Gov. Kaleo Moylan.

As narrated by Variety ace reporter Mar-Vic Cagurangan in her scoop, the three have been meeting to discuss strategies for Neal Weare’s We the People Project, a new movement aimed at achieving equal representation for Americans living in U.S. territories.

The three belong to different political parties and their banding together for a non-partisan cause would not have been remarkable were it not for the fact that Guam is about to enter its next political season with gubernatorial and senatorial elections coming up next year.

Gutierrez, after his loss in the 2010 gubernatorial election, has not really faded from the political scene, continuing to be a dominant force in the Democratic Party and giving Doris Flores Brooks a scare with his brief flirtation with the public auditor post during the last election. Some say he’s considering another Adelup run, this time with his erstwhile rival Robert Underwood.

Leon Guerrero is no stranger to politics, having served as a senator and the other half of the old “Ben and Lou” gubernatorial team. As the head of the family-owned Bank of Guam, she is even more influential now than during her days in politics, a force to be reckoned with in both the Democratic and Republican parties.

And Moylan, of course, has already served as lieutenant governor of the island. He’s also a scion of one of the island’s elite families and there’s nothing stopping him from gunning for the top Adelup post himself.

I’m sure the We the People Project was the main topic of discussion between the three, but with the political season just around the corner, could there have been other “side” discussions made? Remember, these people are eminent power brokers and they have also been meeting with former Gov. Felix Camacho who is currently estranged from the Calvo administration. Could secret alliances and offers of support have been made?

Dynamics

Since the last election, a lot of things have happened to change the dynamics of both the Republican and Democratic parties on Guam.

There continues to be infighting among the Democrats, with many finally drawing the line against Sen. Dennis Rodriguez who has not been toeing the party line at all and still cannot decide whether he’s a Democrat or a Calvo acolyte.

On the Republican side there is dissension as well. Many are saying the GOP is now beginning to resemble the traditionally factional Democratic Party because of the perceived split between incumbent Adelup resident Eddie Calvo and former Gov. Camacho, with Felix even making a veiled threat about a gubernatorial challenge during the height of the port controversy involving his sister.

Aside from Camacho, there are other possible candidates who may challenge Calvo in the Republican gubernatorial primary.

So far the Calvo-Tenorio team has remained solid, but if Tenorio ever becomes unhappy, he could oppose Calvo’s re-election bid.

There’s also Calvo’s old foe, Mike Cruz, who may still decide on another Adelup run.

And then there is Kaleo Moylan who may have learned from the Calvo template of a family business empire expanding its power by entering politics. Moylan also has a family business empire and he has media too, with his Moy Communications, though not as extensive as the Calvo media holdings.

Calvo moves

But Calvo will still be a formidable opponent if elections were held today. The governor has made political mistakes, yes, but he is also the only governor in recent memory to have given out income tax refunds on time. And just this week, Calvo ordered the release of the salary increments due to thousands of GovGuam workers, including the balance owed to former employees of line agencies and GDOE employees for merit bonuses.

Calvo has also put the Legislature on notice of his intention to incrementally phase in the Hay Plan using the revenues that would have been set aside in the 2 percent reserve. The time frame for this? Next year, of course, right smack in the middle of election season!

These may not be prudent economic moves in a time of fiscal uncertainty, but in the world of politics, they are sure-fire methods to get the popular vote.

In Calvo’s view, however, GovGuam can afford these increments because its finances have already stabilized. “The fiscal crisis doesn’t exist anymore. ... GovGuam hasn't been in a position like that since 1990,” the governor crowed during his weekly address.

Calvo’s detractors, of course, say that the current administration has only replaced the current deficit with long-term debt which the people of Guam would have to bear for years to come.

Sen. Ben Pangelinan, the Legislature’s budget chairman, says GovGuam will only truly find out if its finances have stabilized when it starts paying off the debts that the Calvo administration incurred, starting two years from now.

By that time, of course, the cynics say the governor couldn’t care less because he would have already been re-elected to a second term, riding on the goodwill generated by the tax refund and salary increment payments.

Of course, anything can still happen in 2014 because if there’s one thing that’s certain in Guam elections, it’s that nothing is certain.