page_title: Democratic Party of Guam
section_title: Governor Manuel F. Leon Guerrero (1963-1969)
hierarchical_section_title: Democratic Party of Guam / Democratic Governors of Guam / Governor Manuel F. Leon Guerrero (1963-1969)
caption_attribution_description: English: Picture of Governor Guerrero while in office.
context_page_description: The Democratic Party of Guam is a political party in Guam affiliated with the U.S. Democratic Party. Its origins lie in the Popular Party, which was the only political party on Guam until 1956.
  In addition to appointed Governor Manuel F.L. Guerrero, the first person of native Chamorro descent to rise to the highest office in the territory, three Guamanian Governors have been affiliated with the party: Ricardo J. Bordallo, Carl T.C. Gutierrez, and Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero.
  The party has also elected four of its members as Guam Delegates to the U.S. House of Representatives: Antonio B. Won Pat, Robert A. Underwood, Madeleine Z. Bordallo, and Michael San Nicolas.
  A majority of nine out of fifteen members of the current 34th Guam Legislature are members of the Democratic Party of Guam. The current majority leadership in the Guam Legislature include Speaker Benjamin J.F. Cruz, Vice Speaker Therese M. Terlaje, Legislative Secretary Regine Biscoe Lee, Majority Leader Senator Thomas C. Ada, Assistant Majority Leader Senator Joe S. San Agustin, Majority Whip Telena C. Nelson., Frank Aguon Jr. and Dennis G. Rodriguez Jr.
context_section_description: In 1963, President John F. Kennedy appointed the first Guamanian and Chamorro Governor of Guam, Manuel F. Leon Guerrero. Leon Guerrero's term from 1963 until 1969 was marked by the recovery from Typhoon Karen, including support for Guam under the Guam Rehabilitation Act, the establishment of the Guam Economic Development Authority, and the establishment of the Guam Tourist Commission, later to become the Guam Visitors Bureau.
  In the first race for elected governor, Manuel F. Leon Guerrero teamed up with Dr. Antonio C. "Tony" Yamashita, President of the University of Guam. They were challenged by Speaker Joaquin C. Arriola and retired Judge Vicente Bamba and team of Senator Ricardo J. "Ricky" Bordallo and Richard F. "Dick" Taitano, former Director of the Office of Territories. Guerrero/Yamashita were defeated during the primary election by Bordallo/Taitano. After the primary election, Bordallo-Taitano mounted a vigorous but unsuccessful campaign for Governor against Carlos Camacho and Kurt Moylan.
caption: Manuel F. Leon Guerrero
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