Guam weighs runoff
risking Clinton visit

By Susan Kreifels
Star-Bulletin

The White House says President Clinton is delaying a stopover on Guam this week to avoid being there during a runoff election for governor.

But the Guam Election Commission says the decision for a runoff hasn't been made yet.

At least one Guam voter here says the runoff should be held. And another said she's amazed the election was so close.

Amid the confusion, Guam Gov. Carl Gutierrez said yesterday that the island "must place statesmanship over partisan politics" and certify him winner in the governor's race last week to ensure Clinton arrives.

"This is an official presidential trip -- a once in a lifetime opportunity for the people of Guam -- and the president does not wish his visit to be misinterpreted as political in nature," Gutierrez said in a statement. "The confusion about the results is understandable given the partisan and destructive clamor that has followed this election."

As in Hawaii's gubernatorial race, Democrat Gutierrez barely won over Republican Joseph Ada. The latest unofficial results, according to Guam's Election Commission: Gutierrez received 24,159 votes; Ada, who held the office for two consecutive terms before Gutierrez was elected, received 21,147 votes.

The total ballots cast reached 48,515, according to Guam Election Commission deputy director Elizabeth Blas. Gutierrez garnered 49.79 percent of that total.

Guam's Organic Act requires the governor to receive 50 percent of ballots cast, plus one. But Gutierrez spokeswoman Ginger Cruz said the commission's legal counsel has determined that the 1,312 blank ballots should not be counted in determining the winner, and that would give Gutierrez a winning 51.2 percent.

Cruz said the commission's board of directors -- three Republicans and three Democrats -- is deadlocked on whether to hold a runoff election.

Blas said the commission's board will meet Thursday (tomorrow Hawaii time).

Guam voters living in Hawaii wondered if they would be voting again on an absentee ballot. Joaquin Sablan, 22, a senior at the University of Hawaii studying English, said there must be a runoff if the number is short. "Whether I agree or not with the election results, it's written in the Organic Act and it must be followed," Sablan said.

Faye Untalan, who teaches Guam's native Chamorro language at the University of Hawaii and advises Guam students, said she was on her home island in June and was "overwhelmed" at the aggressive campaign conducted by Gutierrez.

Gutierrez reported raising $2.8 million, the biggest political fund-raising effort in the island's history. Ada, a popular candidate who was always a top vote-getter when he served in the Guam Legislature, raised $358,408.

Abercrombie to join Clinton in Asia By Pete Pichaske Phillips News Service WASHINGTON -- Newly re-elected Rep. Neil Abercrombie will travel to Asia next week as part of the congressional delegation accompanying President Clinton to Japan and South Korea. The Honolulu Democrat is scheduled to meet Clinton Nov. 18 in Japan, after the president attends the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Malaysia. Clinton, Abercrombie and other members of Congress will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and other high-level officials before leaving for South Korea, where they will meet with President Kim Dae-jung. Abercrombie is scheduled to return to Washington with Clinton on Nov. 22, after stopping in Guam. A spokesman said Abercrombie was asked to accompany the president because of the proximity of Hawaii to Asia, and because of the congressman's interest in Asia and its impact on Hawaii's economy. He did not know how many members of Congress would be on the trip. A White House spokeswoman, meanwhile, said that while the president's schedule is tentative and is being reworked, it is not expected to include a stop in Hawaii. In the past, Clinton has stopped in the isles on his way to and from Asian summits.