Previous Story
Local music icon ‘Candy’ Taman endorses HY
Former representative and famed local singer Candido “Candy” Taman is the latest former Babauta-Torres supporter to come out in support of the Hofschneider-Yumul team.
“Though I supported the Babauta-Torres team by helping organize CNMI voters here in Guam where I live now,” Taman said, “I still maintain the view and principle my supporters here have held throughout the general election: We need a change in leadership from the current administration that has led much of the government in the wrong direction.”
“Our efforts in organizing support for Babauta-Torres here in Guam have led us to a consensus that change needs to happen,” Taman said. “We need a change in leadership in the government. That cannot happen with our former team’s leaders now endorsing the incumbents. We must now work to make that change.”
“The people of the Marianas need to take a step back and really look at our current circumstances,” said Taman, who was conferred with an honorary degree in Micronesian Traditional Knowledge by the University of Guam in May. “We need to start navigating within our hearts and minds to figure out which is the best leadership to fix the problems here at home. A lot of people are trying to fix them, but not everyone has the right ideas.”
Taman has been hesitant to endorse a gubernatorial team during the runoff election, saying he feared for some of his friends and relatives who have been targeted for termination in their jobs. Taman posed the question: “Is this the kind of system we want to live in with when our lives and right to exercise our civic responsibilities are always being threatened?”
“I’m a leader in this community,” he said, “and I really hate hiding behind the curtain. But time is running out and I felt that the message needed to get out there.”
“With all due respect to other political organizations, I will say that the reason I’m following Heinz and Ray is because they have the passion and clear vision to try and navigate our Commonwealth to better opportunities for our people,” Taman said. “They heard our people and want to provide them opportunities for them to come back home. That’s what people are crying for: to go home, sweet home.”
