Resignation rocks Republican Party as fallout from Taitague outburst threatens election goals

Fallout from last week’s outburst by Republican Telo Taitague against fellow party mate Tom Fisher at a unity photo opp in Hagatna has led to widening fractures among the GOP.

This week, Republican Party of Guam vice chairman Marvin Crisostomo resigned from party leadership, citing recent events. In a resignation letter to the party’s officers and village organization leadership, Mr. Crisostomo – a combat veteran – pointed to a failure of party leadership to mend divisions and to pay attention to what truly matters to Guamanians.

“I have stood shoulder to shoulder with war leaders on the battlefield, where we shed our blood, sweat, and tears to defend the freedoms we hold dear—our right to vote, our right to speak, to think, and to have a voice in our own destiny,” Mr. Crisostomo wrote in his resignation letter. “Yet, it shatters me to see that the very rights we fought so hard to protect are being misused to sow division and discord within our own ranks. The same spirit of unity and purpose that once drove us forward is glaringly absent in the halls of leadership within our own party.”

The Local Jerk Guam products owner was elected one of the party’s two vice chairpersons less than six months ago. And, apparently, tensions within the party have been so bad, this war veteran decided his conscience could not allow him to remain in party leadership.

“[I]n the brief span of just six months, I’ve come to a painful realization: this position has devolved into little more than a front-row seat to endless squabbling and petty disputes,” Mr. Crisostomo wrote. “This is not the leadership I signed up for. This is not the example I would follow into any battle. I cannot, in good conscience, stand by and watch as our party tears itself apart from within. The real battle rages inside our ranks, yet those who are meant to lead us remain silent. How can we continue to fight each other when we should be united in our common cause? How can we hope to lead others when our own house is so tragically divided?”

The Republican Party of Guam is struggling to align its image as a non-establishment business-friendly political party with its leadership, as most of its officers continue to be either politicians or government employees. Mr. Crisostomo was one of only three party officers from the private sector. The other two are vice chairwoman Thelma Hechanova and secretary Shelly Gibson. Ms. Gibson for years was the lone private sector officer of the party as its national committeewoman. However, at its March convention to elect new officers, a concerted effort designed by a faction of the party conspired to replace her with a politician – former senator Shirley Mabini. Ms. Gibson became the current secretary after Tammy Bamba resigned earlier this year.

“I stepped into this role with a genuine desire to help guide our people toward a brighter future and to learn from those who have held the reins of leadership before me,” Mr. Crisostomo wrote in his resignation letter. “I wish you all the best in navigating these challenging times and hope for a future where unity and purpose can guide our way forward.”

The former vice chairman did not detail what he meant by “endless squabbling and petty disputes,” however his resignation comes after last Wednesday’s profanity-laced confrontation by Ms. Taitague against Mr. Fisher and former Senator Tony Ada at an attempted photo opp of Republican senatorial candidates at the Plaza de Espana.

Whether there have been other ‘squabbles’ or ‘petty disputes’ is unknown publicly, however political observers note these issues could not come at a worse time for a party desperately trying to regain the legislative majority that has evaded the GOP since 2009. A recent poll from the University of Guam’s Ron McNinch shows Democrats and Republicans in a tight race for control of the 38th Guam Legislature. Both Ms. Taitague and Mr. Fisher are incumbents running for reelection. It is conceivable that if either of them lost reelection, Republicans would not be able to win the majority unless lesser known candidates manage to replace them.

Party chairman Shawn Gumataotao, who also is running for senator, read but has yet to respond to Kandit’s multiple questions regarding the resignation.

Here is Mr. Crisostomo’s full resignation letter:

 

Republican Party,

With a heavy heart, I write to you today to announce my resignation as Second Vice Chair of the Republican Party of Guam.

I stepped into this role with a genuine desire to help guide our people toward a brighter future and to learn from those who have held the reins of leadership before me. But in the brief span of just six months, I’ve come to a painful realization: this position has devolved into little more than a front-row seat to endless squabbling and petty disputes.

I have stood shoulder to shoulder with war leaders on the battlefield, where we shed our blood, sweat, and tears to defend the freedoms we hold dear—our right to vote, our right to speak, to think, and to have a voice in our own destiny. Yet, it shatters me to see that the very rights we fought so hard to protect are being misused to sow division and discord within our own ranks. The same spirit of unity and purpose that once drove us forward is glaringly absent in the halls of leadership within our own party.

This is not the leadership I signed up for. This is not the example I would follow into any battle.
I cannot, in good conscience, stand by and watch as our party tears itself apart from within. The real battle rages inside our ranks, yet those who are meant to lead us remain silent. How can we continue to fight each other when we should be united in our common cause? How can we hope to lead others when our own house is so tragically divided?

This letter is not intended to provoke further discord. I owe it to those who entrusted me into this position with their vote, to speak the truth and let you know directly from me why I can no longer serve.
The decision to step down is not an easy one, but it is the only path I can take with integrity intact.

I apologize if my resignation causes any inconvenience or distress. My intention has always been to act in the best interest of our party and our people. I wish you all the best in navigating these challenging times and hope for a future where unity and purpose can guide our way forward.

If any of you need me, you know where to find me. Campaigning besides all of you where I started…at the bottom.

Marvin Crisostomo