FORMER Gov. Carl T.C. Gutierrez sure does make things interesting. Throughout his terms as the island’s chief executive, and in every campaign where he has been a candidate, he has stirred things up, providing a lot of grist for the editorial and talkshow mills.

Friday’s news that he will launch a write-in campaign for the position of Public Auditor was no exception. He made the decision, after being urged to run by some of his closest friends and advisors, during a meeting at his home Thursday night, and he was right up there on the Variety front page the following morning.

Later that day, under a banyan tree in front of Shirley’s Restaurant in the Agana Shopping Center, he met with the rest of the media to explain his decision. Everyone is accountable, he said, implying that entities with ties to the current administration of Gov. Eddie Calvo are not being scrutinized enough. The health insurance companies on Guam will be in his sights, he promised, especially SelectCare, the Calvo company.

And no, Gutierrez said, he will not resign from his position as the formal head of the Democratic Party of Guam. Throwing down the gauntlet in front of the Republican governor, Gutierrez reminded everyone that the woman who currently holds the Auditor’s office, Doris Flores Brooks, is also a Republican. In fact, she ran for lieutenant governor along with former Speaker Tommy Tanaka in 1994, against Gutierrez.

The former governor believes the law allows him to campaign for write-in votes and, if successful, wage a campaign against Ms. Brooks in the general election while still remaining as head of the Democratic Party. Brooks, for her part, has pointed out her position is non-partisan.

Unfortunately that doesn’t mean very much here. In the political cauldron that heats up every election, there really is no such thing as a non-partisan campaign for anything. We have an elected Attorney General and an elected Public Auditor, who, while they may have run without emphasizing their party affiliations, are Republicans. To their credit, both individuals manage to keep their partisan feelings and orientation out of their handling of their jobs.

The question in many minds in the wake of former Gov. Gutierrez’s announcement is: Would he be able to do the same? The answer is problematic as long as Gutierrez remains in charge of the Democratic Party of Guam. We think he should reconsider his decision, not to run as a write-in for Public Auditor, but to remain atop the Democratic Party.

Carl Gutierrez has a lot of loyal followers. We have no doubt many of them will write in his name during the primary. Given the likelihood his campaign will be at least successful enough to get him on the ballot in November, we think he should step out of his role as the island’s top Democrat. He should at least try to preserve the non-partisan nature of the position he seeks.