WELL, it’s re-election time. I’m not going to use this column to promote one individual or another, but I do want to remind readers of the issues that we’ve been pushing so perhaps you can recall who was for or against each one.

First and foremost is the tax refunds issue. Most of us will fairly and simply think of it as a long fight that led to the payment of more than $300 million in tax refunds this fiscal year. We’ll remember what Christmas 2011 was like because of it. Personally, I get a bit overwhelmed with emotion when I think about the families I met during the Christmas season who would have had nothing for their children without the government giving back their money.

But there’s something underlying that long fight for your tax refunds. I presented my plan to pay the tax refunds through bond financing early last year. Almost immediately there were senators who supported it. They basically said, "It’s the people’s money, so they should have it." Somehow, for some reason, the debate dragged into October. There were senators who opposed the plan at first. They spoke vehemently against it. One even said it would be irresponsible to pay you back your money and that he’d rather owe you the money than owe the bank. I found that to be really insensitive to the thousands of our people who struggle every day to make ends meet, and who couldn’t afford food without government assistance.

It took a lot of pushing, if we can all remember those grueling weeks fighting for the tax refunds. The Mayors' Council of Guam was the first group to come out and publicly endorse the plan to pay tax refunds. Then Public Auditor Doris Flores Brooks explained why it made sense. Then the Guam Chamber of Commerce touted the measure as good fiscal and economic policy. Remember? Pressure just kept building on the Legislature to do what was right. That pressure led to a lot of posturing. The out-numbered members of the minority stood strong in their conviction to pay the refunds. One member of the majority was on their side. They needed one more.

Negotiations went back and forth. Public pressure grew and grew. One plan was tossed out, another vetoed, and finally a two-series bond was authorized.

The simple way to remember that fight for tax refunds is to consider that it was a philosophical fight, where one side believed the people should be paid what they were owed, and the other side believed the money should stay with the government. But the truth, my fellow Guamanians, is a philosophical fight may have been more respectable. Old-fashioned politics is what caused that fight and sustained it until the people finally won. It was all about credit. All about pride. All about ego for some. I don’t need to spell it out. I’m sure you remember what was said and what was done. At the end of the day, there were senators who did what was right in their hearts, and there were others who could not connect with what matters most to you.

As you make your decisions on who to vote for, or whether to vote at all (and I implore you to do so), please remember who was on your side regarding your tax refunds. Remember who was on your side about the military buildup and all the opportunities it can bring. Remember who had the courage to stand up for education improvement and reform. Most of all, please remember who has connected with you and our fellow islanders this entire time.