Carl Gutierrez

In the Democratic Primary, Gutierrez placed 3rd, receiving 6,278 votes.

Carl Tommy Cruz Gutierrez (born October 15, 1941) is an American (U.S. citizen) politician who was the 6th Governor of Guam, serving two four-year terms with Lieutenant Governor Madeleine Bordallo from January 2, 1995, to January 6, 2003.

Born in Agaña Heights, Guam on October 15, 1941, Gutierrez was the fourth of eleven children born to Tomas Taitano Gutierrez and Rita Benavente Cruz.

He is of Spanish and native Chamorro descent.

As a young child during World War II, he endured the horrors of the Manenggon Concentration Camp, and alongside his mother and other captive Chamorros he was among those who were rescued by American soldiers during the liberation of Guam.

When Gutierrez was a boy his father (unable to work due to an injury suffered as a teenager) and his mother had a difficult time raising such a large family.

Carl attended Agana Heights Elementary School and George Washington High School.

When a friend (commander of the Navy drydock) offered to help Gutierrez finish high school on the U.S. mainland, Gutierrez took advantage of the opportunity.

However, less than four months after leaving Guam, his father died.

He graduated from South San Francisco High School in California in 1960.

Gutierrez enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on the day he graduated from high school.

Explaining why he chose to join the U.S. Air Force, Carl Gutierrez later said, "For me, it was a means to get an education. After learning what I could in the computer field, I wanted to come home where my roots are."

Following his tour in the Air Force from 1960 to 1965, Gutierrez entered into the business world, eventually forming CarlTom Construction Company.

Gutierrez spent nearly eight years as a government of Guam data processing manager.

Stationed in New Mexico, following Typhoon Karen in November 1962, Gutierrez was assigned to Andersen Air Force Base, so he could help his mother and brothers and sisters in the aftermath of the typhoon.

Gutierrez married Geraldine Chance “Geri” Torres, on September 7, 1963, after a 6-month courtship.

Gutierrez and Geri are practicing Roman Catholics, involved in many church organizations and activities.

They have three children, Carla, Tommy & Hannah, and five grandchildren, Lily, Livia, Seth, Liam, & Emilia-Chance.

Carl Gutierrez became interested in the world of politics and assisted former Democratic senators Ricardo J. “Ricky” Bordallo and Richard F. Taitano in 1969 gearing up for the 1970 first election for the office of Governor of Guam.

Eventually Ricky, Dick Taitano and sister Evelyn and others urged him to run for senator in the 1972 election.

Gutierrez was elected in 1972.

Carl T.C. Gutierrez first ran for the Guam Legislature in 1972.

Running in the Democratic Primary, Gutierrez placed number 8 by votes received, with 4,925 votes.

In the General Election, Carl Gutierrez rose to number 7 with 10,844 votes.

Three future governors of Guam were included in the 12th Guam Legislature, which was sworn in on January 1, 1973, including Governor Gutierrez, Paul M. Calvo and Joseph F. Ada.

He was selected by his colleagues to serve as Chairman of the Committee on Housing and Urban Development in the first of his nine terms as senator.

During his first term, Carl Gutierrez authored the GHURA 500 Low and Moderate Income Housing Law, which used five parcels of government land in Dededo and Yigo to build 500 homes, and established the Guam Youth Congress.

Senator Carl Gutierrez sought reelection in 1974.

In 1977, by authorization of Federal Law and Local Law, Gutierrez was elected to the First Constitutional Convention and was elected by his colleagues to preside as president.

In addition to Governor Gutierrez' two successful elections as Governor with running mate Madeleine Bordallo, Governor Gutierrez ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1978, with running mate Dr. Joseph Dizon, in 1986 with Senator John P. Aguon, in 2006 with former Chief Justice Senator Benjamin J.F. Cruz and in 2010 with Senator Frank B. Aguon, Jr. Governor Gutierrez has remained active in public life for a period spanning four decades.

In 1978, Carl Gutierrez ran for the office of governor as an independent, with Dr. Joseph Dizon, a Republican, as his running mate.

In the Primary, the ticket received 762 votes, insufficient to be included in the General Election.

A constitution was drafted and approved by US President Jimmy Carter and the U.S. Congress but was later not ratified by Guam in a 1979 special election.

Gutierrez served as advisor to Palau's Constitutional Convention in 1979 and was later made an honorary citizen of Palau by legislation.

He co-sponsored legislation creating the APIL, association of Pacific Island legislatures.

He was elected to three terms as their president.

In the General Election, Gutierrez placed 10th with 11,028 votes.

His long history of public service also includes election as President of Guam's first federally-recognized Constitutional Convention and as the architect and father of computerization of the Government of Guam.

He was again defeated in the 2014 gubernatorial election, in which his running mate was Gary Gumataotao.

Gutierrez previously served a total of nine terms as a Senator in the Guam Legislature and was chosen by his colleagues to serve as Speaker of the 17th and 18th Guam Legislatures, respectively.