Guam deadlock
p. 53 · Read in the full issue
ARISING star in Guam’s Democratic Party, Senator-elect Marilyn Won Pat, died before she could take office, apparently from natural causes. Her death has created, among other things, a series of complications in Guam politics.
Ms Won was swept into the Territorial Legislature in November, while several sitting members were defeated. As a result of the voting, the Democrats continued to hold the Legislature by the narrowest of margins, 11-10. Ms Pat’s death created a deadlocked Legislature, with each party holding 10 seats.
The question of how to fill the seat is a murky area, since Guam has no precedent for filling such vacancies. One solution would be a special election, as Guam does when sitting senators die.
In that case, Senator Madeleine Bordallo would be a logical candidate for return to the Legislature. Another option would be to give the seat to the losing candidate with the most votes defeated Senator Ted Nelson, another Democrat. □