(Editor’s note: Early voting begins at 10 a.m. today through July 29 at The Westin Resort Guam in Tumon.
) Law enforcement, housing, and the economy and cost-of-living top the priorities of non-incumbent candidates campaigning for a seat in the 38th Guam Legislature. Of the 11 non-incumbent, or non-seat-holding candidates, eight responded to the Pacific Daily News regarding their top policy priorities, plans, and pitches. The 11 non-incumbents include three Democrats and eight Republicans.
The government’s grip on crime and law enforcement response was a common thread among five candidates. “Violent crime is on the rise,” said Vic Gaza, a Republican candidate who believes illegal drugs such as methamphetamine and cocaine, and potentially fentanyl, to be primary causes of crime. “My top priority is to stem the flow of these drugs on our island.
The administration is putting more cops on the streets which is greatly needed, but I believe we need to provide greater funding to our law enforcement components at our seaport and airport to keep these illicit drugs from entering our island,” he said. “The COVID pandemic was declared an emergency. It’s time to also treat our meth epidemic with urgency and great importance.
” Republican candidate Sabrina Salas Matanane echoed concerns on prevalent drug-related crimes. “The one consistent thread amongst the armed robbers, the drug dealers and abusers, Guam’s long standing unemployment, is the lack of education and tr.
