Babauta appreciative of UOG primary forum

With less than a week to go until the Primary Elections, Congressional candidate Tony Babauta is looking forward to Wednesday’s Primary Forum hosted by the University of Guam.

With that, Babauta suggests the forum adjust its format by not providing all the questions to the candidates ahead of time in order to test their true knowledge of Congressional topics.

“I am very appreciative that the University of Guam has organized a forum for candidates seeking Guam’s Delegate Seat to the U.S. House of Representatives. Meeting voters on the campaign trail has been rewarding and educational for them and me, as I seek their support to be Guam’s Voice in Congress,” Babauta said. “It’s clear to me that the electorate has been desiring to see Delegate candidates on the same stage, in whatever forum, to hear how we perform and what distinguishes us from each other. I’ve also discovered that as a candidate, I need to be prepared to answer many questions on multitude of issues in my effort to earn their vote and I’m sure that my competitor as well as the Republican candidates for delegate are experiencing the same.”

Last week, Bordallo appeared on an afternoon radio talk show where she deferred to her chief of staff to explain, discuss, or update listeners on issues that has the our island and that she has been working on as our delegate over the past 14 years. “Since then, voters have asked me if I’m running against her or her chief of staff and who’s voice is actually representing us in the U.S. Congress; Ms. Bordallo or her chief of staff?” Babauta added.

“If Hillary Clinton can charge that (Donald) Trump is unfit for the presidency for what he says, what and how are we to think about Ms. Bordallo as she defers to her staff to be our voice when we elected her? “I worked in Congress for more than a decade as professional staff to the Committee on Natural Resources. A lot of work goes toward preparing Members for briefings, hearings, and appearances but in all cases a Member of Congress needs to have a command of local issues to be able to effectively represent their constituency. Seniority alone doesn’t guarantee success in Washington, D.C.; our delegate needs to also have substance.”

The University of Guam has informed participants for their upcoming forum that questions will be provided a day before the event. Given the importance of this primary election for everyone seeking the delegate seat, Babauta has respectfully asked UOG to make known only half of the questions to candidates, thereby leaving the other half equally unknown.

“My request maintains fairness amongst all participants and more importantly will allow our audience to understand how each of us thinks on our feet,” continued Babauta. “I have always applauded those individuals who make a decision to seek elected office. The Office of Delegate is one of the most important ones that Guam chooses because such individual is tasked with resolving longstanding issues, keeping current with what our island wrestles with today, and having a vision for tomorrow. Our delegate does all of this in a highly charged and demanding political environment.” Guam’s delegate doesn’t always have the benefit of having staff support in meeting with other members, the administration, or foreign governments and our people should be assured that the voice we elect is the one that is speaking on our behalf.

The UOG Forum is slated for this Wednesday, August 24. For more information or to set up interviews with former assistant secretary Babauta, contact campaign chair Sonny Orsini at (671) 689-9424 or via email at babauta2016@gmail.com.