Joseph Franklin Ada

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Joseph Franklin Ada (born 1943) is a U.S. political figure. He served as the Republican Governor of Guam from 1987 until 1995. His running mate and Lt. Governor was former senator Frank Blas.

Ada served numerous terms in the Guam Legislature, becoming the first Republican speaker of the Legislature when the Republicans captured control of the body from the Democratic Party.

As governor, he was instrumental in seeing that every taxpayer on Guam received a two thousand dollar rebate.

When his second term was over, the Republican Party chose his Lt. Governor Frank Blas to run for the governorship, but a destructive primary between him and former Speaker Thomas V. Tanaka led the Democrats to win under Carl Gutierrez.

He was the first governor of Guam to be reelected to a consecutive term in office, after winning reelection in 1990.

After several years he once again ran for Governor in 1998, but was defeated by incumbent Democratic governor Carl T.C. Gutierrez. In this election, his running mate was former Senator Felix Camacho, who is currently the Governor of Guam. In 2000, Joe Ada ran for senator once more and was elected, joining the Republican majority in the Legislature. In 2002, he ran for Congressional delegate against Democrat Madeleine Bordallo, but lost.

Preceded by Ricardo Bordallo

Governor of Guam 1987-1995

Succeeded by Carl T.C. Gutierrez