fighting back

This widow’s fighting back

MADELEINE Bordalio, widow of the late Democratic Governor of Guam, Ricky Bordalio, appar ently is on her way back to a seat in the island legislature. She gave up a safe seat there last November to run, unsuccess fully, for Governor against incumbent Republican Joe Ada.

The special election, scheduled for April 6, was caused by the death of Marilyn Won Pat, the retired US Army nurse who died after being elected to the island legislature and before taking office. A Democrat, she was daughter of the popular long-time island delegate to Washington, Antonio Won Pat.

There are several other candidates for the seat, including Pete Ada, a Repub-, lican and a former Senator, and Judith' Won Pat, sister to the late senator-elect, but Bordalio is favored as she and her late husband* are and were favourites of a substantial portion of the island’s popu-

lation.

Ricky Bordalio was twice elected Governor but in his second term federal prosecutors indicted him for corruption; although most of the charges were subsequently over-ruled, Bordalio shot himself on the day he was supposed to fly off to a Mainland prison camp.

Madeleine Bordalio, meanwhile, has

twice been elected to the senate, most recently in a by-election, like the coming one, caused by the death of a Democratic incumbent.

The election has more than passing interest because whichever party wins will secure a majority in the legislature, now spilt between 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans. □

Bordallo: on the way back