Marianas Variety Guam Edition – The Local and Regional Newspaper

Skip to content

12 23Mon05202013

Headlines:

Traffic fines: Speeding does pay

Guam soldiers killed in Afghanistan blast

Guam Micronesia Island Fair comes to a close

Partial impact of furloughs on Guam: $2.24M

GovGuam to push for Layon payment

Settings

Back Local

News

Ethics complaint dismissed

Friday, 27 Jul 2012 03:30am

BY ZITA Y. TAITANO | VARIETY NEWS STAFF

Prev
1 of 2
Next

THE ethics complaint filed by Independent congressional delegate candidate Jon Diaz has been dismissed.

Sen. Rory Respicio, majority leader and rules committee chairman, sent a letter dated July 25 to Diaz acknowledging receipt of his complaint. But Respicio explained that the complaint didn’t meet the “elements” of the 31st Guam Legislature’s standing rules.

“Consequently, I am returning your complaint due to lack of legislative jurisdiction,” Respicio stated in the letter.

Respicio also referred to Rule 8 under the Rules of Procedure for the Legislative Committee on Ethics and Standards which states that while complaints must be in writing and signed by the complainant, “complaints and information about senators and employees of the Legislature must be verified as true or that the complainant believes to be true under threat of penalty and perjury under the laws of Guam.”

The rule also stated that all complaints shall be made no later than July 2. Diaz filed 17 days after the deadline.

Diaz, meanwhile, said he knew this was going to happen.

“I’m contemplating at this point that the people of Guam need to hold the line as taxpayers because we expect our legislators to work for us and not hide behind a rule,” he said.

Diaz filed the complaint more than a week ago claiming Republican opponent Sen. Frank Blas should have recused himself from voting on the measure to include Independent candidates on the primary ballot. Diaz believes there is a conflict of interest since Blas is also running for Congress.

Diaz has also sent a request to the Federal Election Commission but was told by the federal agency that it only investigates campaign contributions.

Comments

+1 #6 Ron McNinch 2012-07-28 01:02

So I noticed a candidate wearing a USMC style cap on his Facebook pic...

-1 #5 Jonathan Frank Blas Diaz 2012-07-27 16:29

http://youtu.be/Ye8mB6VsUHw

Thank you Sesame for teaching us all today!

+2 #4 Ron McNinch 2012-07-27 15:36

Wow so many compliments Jonathan.
But raising a Hatch concern is a part of the process.

Government employees are not allowed to run for office as a general rule. I confirmed today you are working at UOG, so I am just wondering if it is a Hatch or mini hatch violation.

On an order of magnitude for public concern, a Hatch issue is a 100, the theoretical issue you raised is probably 1.

+1 #3 Jeff 2012-07-27 15:22

Quoting Jonathan Frank Blas Diaz:

By all means Ron! If you believe that there is a legitimate concern, please file with the proper authorities. I, for one, really believe that if there is indeed a violation, then we ought to file these claims and allegations with the proper authorities. I believe that people with agendas by always offering commentary in local news agencies, always seen down at the Legislature "meeting" with senators, always offering U.N expertise without giving the name of the person who recommended you, always receiving the educator of the year award because he's "your governor," always passing students who are a teacher's pet, especially a one "raywade" with flying colors even though there was plagerism involved, and ultimately enslaving his students to do polls for his name and his name only, then perhaps we may be "transparent" with our actions and offer the Peoples of Guam a perspective that is teleologically sound! I am humbled that I would receive some form of recognition from you ole' chap! It goes to show, that you remember my name. I will continually and humbly ask for your vote and only your vote this September since dirty politics is of no concern to a political scientist!

With respect to Mr. Diaz, it seems he is no different in presenting his agenda on the media outlets. I have to question his agenda in running. It doesn't seem sincere for the people of Guam. I will not vote for him.

-6 #2 Jonathan Frank Blas Diaz 2012-07-27 14:28

By all means Ron! If you believe that there is a legitimate concern, please file with the proper authorities. I, for one, really believe that if there is indeed a violation, then we ought to file these claims and allegations with the proper authorities. I believe that people with agendas by always offering commentary in local news agencies, always seen down at the Legislature "meeting" with senators, always offering U.N expertise without giving the name of the person who recommended you, always receiving the educator of the year award because he's "your governor," always passing students who are a teacher's pet, especially a one "raywade" with flying colors even though there was plagerism involved, and ultimately enslaving his students to do polls for his name and his name only, then perhaps we may be "transparent" with our actions and offer the Peoples of Guam a perspective that is teleologically sound! I am humbled that I would receive some form of recognition from you ole' chap! It goes to show, that you remember my name. I will continually and humbly ask for your vote and only your vote this September since dirty politics is of no concern to a political scientist!