"The challenge now is to practice politics as the art of making what appears to be impossible, possible."
-Hillary Clinton
"Expanding the duties of vice mayors on Guam"
The following context was an email. Enjoy!
[Agat, Guam; January 28, 2011]
Buenas yan Hafa Adai Senora Telo Taitague,
As we anticipate the initial beginning of the Military Build Up on Guam and the opportunities it will bring to the island, our villages and its communities, must be prepared for the tasks ahead. I am writing you in attempt to provide ideas so that our community will be able and ready for this great investment. Today, our Mayors are plagued with many issues affecting their villages not limited to infrastructure, recreational facilities, and certainly land erosion problems. In addition, they handle administrative duties of their offices which keep them limited to attend to the issues of the day
Seven (7) of our villages on Guam are equipped with elected vice mayors. I believe that these positions are underutilized under current public law. However, the duties of the vice mayor are agreed upon with the mayor. Our mayors are already busied with much and being that the vice mayor is an elected position, then I request that their duties be expanded and additional authority be authorized under Guam law. An idea to consider, is to allow the vice mayor with the authority to make decisions in regards to operations (hiring employees budgeted for maintenance, village beautification and ect..). I ask you, as liasion to the Guam Legislature, for Governor Calvo for munincipal affairs, to begin discussions on this topic. This will require legislation to amend and add sections into the Guam Code Annotated that properly outline the above duties.
I strongly believe that the People of Guam will support this initiative and more importantly, these positions are paid an annual amount of forty-two thousand ($42,000.00) and which will make economic sense to obligate vice mayors to perform accordingly. I want to acknowledge that our vice mayors do perform outstandingly, but should be granted proper duty and authority. I also strongly believe that the Calvo Administration will support this idea and the community of Guam will be appreciative of anyway that we can live within our means and do more. We must be ready and innovative in our efforts. We must be willing to tackle the issues, not just as individuals, but through team work.
My campaign commitment in 2010 has my work cut out for me and now, I intend to follow through, by taking proactive steps in a new and right direction for our community. As an everyday guide to myself, I stand by my words of, true leadership doesn't always come from an elected position but by the progress made by not being in one. This is the year of Guamanian Service
Respectively,
Derick Baza Hills
former speaker, 27th Guam Youth Congress
and candidate for Agat Vice Mayor, campaign of 2010.