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TODAY is the last day to file for candidacy in the Guam primary elections.

Yesterday, two up-and-coming candidates for the senatorial and congressional race beat the deadline and filed their application packets separately at the Guam Election Commission. Although coming from opposite sides of the political spectrum, the two represent a new generation of candidates aspiring to serve in the highest levels of government.  

Surrounded by families and supporters, Democratic candidate for Guam delegate Karlo Dizon officially announced his bid for and indicated an economy-based platform focused on strengthening construction and other core industries, and cultivating new industries such as aquaculture and alternative energy.

“My focus will be on the economy. There is no other candidate for this seat who is talking about the reality – that is we have a Republican-controlled Congress that is fighting tooth and nail to slash budgets left and right,” Dizon added.

He said Guam faces an “incredibly conservative government in the United States Congress, which is keen on slashing the island’s budget.” It is important, according to Dizon, to provide the proper foundation to ensure Guam can face the challenges of the coming decade. 

“It is a very economy-based platform. We are essentially confronting it from all angles, so from tourism we need to try to get a visa waiver but also an open skies agreement. In terms of construction, we need to prioritize local companies instead of mainland companies,” he explained. 

Dizon said he feels grateful for all the support poured into his campaign. He stated: “We started as a small group of friends and family who believe there is space in our politics for new ideas, space for shifting the focus back to the people, instead of keeping the same names, the same kind of politics over and over. Since then, it has expanded into this movement.”

Morrison

Another new face in the political arena is Bureau of Statistics Director Tommy Morrison who also filed his candidacy for the senatorial race yesterday.

Morrison, who is running under the Republican banner, counts his experience serving in different government and private agencies as a strength that will serve him well if elected as senator.

“I’m not only a new face but I’ve also been serving leadership capacities for over the past decade. One of my strengths is I’ve served as a director of the Department of Parks and Recreation. I then went on to serve as an executive director of the Guam Contractors Licensing Board,” Morrison explained during an interview.

He indicated an interest in focusing on the economy, job creation and the environment as his primary platform. Morrison also stated his intention of working with the village mayors in developing and strengthening after-school programs for children.