Edward Diego Reyes

Edward Diego Reyes
Lieutenant Governor of Guam
In office
January 3, 1983 – January 5, 1987
Governor Ricardo Bordallo
Preceded by Joseph F. Ada
Succeeded by Frank Blas
Personal details
Born 1919
Political party Democratic Party of Guam
Spouse(s) Guadalupe Reyes

Edward Diego "Eddie" Reyes (born c. 1919) is a Guamanian politician and retired United States Air Force colonel. Reyes served as Lieutenant Governor of Guam from 1983 to 1987 under Governor Ricardo Bordallo, having been elected in 1982 as Bordallo's running mate.

Political career

In 1978, incumbent Guam Governor Ricardo Bordallo, a Democrat, lost re-election to Republican Paul McDonald Calvo.[1] Four years later, Bordallo, who planned a political comeback, once again announced his candidacy for Governor.[1] Bordallo chose U.S. Air Force Colonel Edward Diego Reyes, a political unknown with no previous experience in elected office as his running mate.[1] [2] Reyes, a Vietnam War veteran with several awards and honors, retired from the U.S. Air Force following a 28 year career in order to enter the race with Bordallo.[2]

Bordallo and Reyes were challenged in the 1982 Democratic gubernatorial primary by Bordallo's former Lt. Governor Rudy Sablan and his running mate, Joe Leon Guerrero.[2] However, Bordallo-Reyes easily defeated Sablan in the primary election by 35 percent.[2]

Bordallo and Reyes' campaign utilized the "People First" slogan in the general election campaign against Governor Paul McDonald Calvo.[2] The Bordallo-Reyes defeated incumbent Governor Calvo and his running mate, Peter F. Perez, Jr., in the 1982 general election.[1][2] Bordallo won the race 1,402 votes (approximately 5%) out 28,996 votes cast.[2] Bordallo and Reyes were sworn in as Governor and Lt. Governor on January 3, 1983.

Bordallo and Reyes sought re-election to a second term in 1986. However, Governor Bordallo was indicted in September 1986 on eleven counts of corruption.[1] Lt. Governor Reyes, who continued to support Bordallo as his running mate, was not implicated in the scandal and emerged from it with his reputation unscathed.[3] However, the chances that Bordallo-Reyes ticket would be re-elected were severely diminished by Bordallo's indictment.[3]

Bordallo-Reyes lost re-election to Republican Joseph Franklin Ada and his running mate, Frank Blas, in the general election on November 4, 1986.[3] Ada defeated Governor Bordallo by 2,581 votes (7.6%).[3]

Reyes later served as a Senator in the Legislature of Guam during the 1990s.[4] In 1994, Reyes unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Guam, choosing Gloria Nelson as his running mate for Lt. Governor.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Quinata, Nicholas Y.; Murphy, Shannon J. (2016-08-01). "Governor Ricardo J. Bordallo biography". Guampedia. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rogers, Roger F. (April 1995). "Destiny's Landfall: A History of Guam (page 270–271)". Destiny's Landfall: A History of Guam (Google Books). Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Rogers, Roger F. (April 1995). "Destiny's Landfall: A History of Guam (page 280)". Destiny's Landfall: A History of Guam (Google Books). Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  4. ↑ "Question of Guam: request for hearing: letter dated 30 September 1994 from Senator Edward Diego Reyes, 22nd Guam Legislature, addressed to the Chairman of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee.". Dag Hammarskjöld Library. 1994-10-07. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  5. ↑ Taitano, Zita Y. (2012-10-23). "Gloria Nelson laid to rest". Guam Daily Posy. Retrieved 2016-08-01.


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