Jim Espaldon | |
---|---|
Minority Leader of the Guam Legislature | |
In office January 2, 2017 –January 7, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Anthony Ada |
Succeeded by | William Castro |
Member of the Guam Legislature | |
In office January 5,2015 –January 7,2019 | |
In office January 3,2007 –January 3,2011 | |
Personal details | |
Born | James Virata Espaldon June 21,1956 Philippines |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Gilda Respicio Eay |
Children | 3,including 1 adopted |
Education | Menlo College (BA) Ohio Northern University (JD) |
James Virata Espaldon (born June 21,1956),also known as Jim Espaldon,is an American politician and lawyer. A member of the Republican Party,Espaldon is a former candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Guam in the 2010 gubernatorial election as the running mate of Michael Cruz. [1] He placed fourth in the 2014 Guam Elections for the Legislature of Guam. [2] On May 31,2018,Espaldon announced that he would not seek reelection in 2018.
Espaldon was born on June 21,1956 [3] in the Philippines to Dr. Ernesto "Ernie" Mercader Espaldon (1927–2006) [3] who served as a senator for six terms in the 13th,14th,15th,19th,20th,21st Guam Legislatures, [3] [4] and Dr. Leticia Virata (1928–2020),an anesthesiologist. He is also the grandson of Cipriano Acuña Espaldon and Claudia Cadag Mercader.
Espaldon graduated from Father Duenas Memorial High School in 1975. [3] He received his bachelor's degree in business management from Menlo College in California. [1]
Espaldon has held jobs in the real estate,health care and retail industries during his early career. [1] He previously worked as an onion farmer on the island of Maui in Hawaii. [3] Espaldon then transitioned to retail management at ABC Stores in Hawaii before returning to Guam. [3] He worked in Guamanian real estate before becoming director for facilities services at a medical clinic. [3]
He obtained a Juris Doctor from Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law in 2003. [1] [3]
Espaldon worked as a law clerk for the Supreme Court of Guam under Judge Alberto C. Lamorena III prior to entering politics. [1] He joined the Guam bar association in September 2006. [3]
Espaldon was first elected as a senator in the Legislature of Guam the 29th Guam Legislature in November 2006. [1] [3] He was sworn into office on January 1,2007. Espaldon was re-elected to second term in November 2008 for the 30th Guam Legislature,serving until January 3,2011. [1] [3]
Lt. Governor Michael W. Cruz,a candidate for governor in the 2010 gubernatorial election,chose Espaldon as his running mate for the election. [1] The announcement was made at the Cruz-Espaldon headquarters in Piti on May 4,2010. [4]
On July 1,2014,Espaldon filed for candidacy with the Guam Election Commission for a new term as a Republican senator for the 33rd Guam Legislature. Former senator Espaldon was a senator for the past two terms. Ex-senator Espaldon won the election with more votes in 2014,but won in the November election when he came to his office on January 5,2015.
After placing fourth in the island-wide election,Espaldon was chosen by his colleagues in the 33rd Guam Legislature.
On February 25,2015 Senator Espaldon introduced Bill No. 44-33 (COR) to add a new (h) to §5201 of 22 GCA relative to the use of an individual's credit history in the employment process.
In March 2015 Senators Espaldon,Rodriguez and Vice Speaker Cruz introduced Bill No. 54-33 (COR) to amend §4301(b) of 4 GCA,Relative to the Calculation of Government of Guam Group Health Insurance Plan Employee Contributions.
On May 31,2018,Espaldon announced that he would not seek re-election in 2018,keeping his pledge when he ran in 2006 to only serve four terms in the legislature. After announcing his retirement,Espaldon is planning to run for attorney general,but he recently declined.
Espaldon is married to a hairdresser Gilda Respicio Eay, [3] father to Christian James and Victoria,also an adoptive daughter to Jonte Perez De Leon who is married to SUP Shack Guam member Lad De Leon. He also has two adopted granddaughters Gabrielle "Gabby" and Mylee de Leon and one grandson Landon. [1]
The Republican Party of Guam,commonly referred to as Guam GOP,is a political party in Guam affiliated with the United States Republican Party.
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.
Kaleo Scott Moylan is a Guamanian politician and businessman and a member of the Republican Party of Guam. He was Lieutenant Governor of Guam between January 6,2003,and January 1,2007.
Carl Tommy Cruz Gutierrez was the 6th Governor of Guam,serving two four-year terms with Lieutenant Governor Madeleine Z. Bordallo from January 2,1995 to January 6,2003. Gutierrez previously served a total of nine terms as a Senator in the Guam Legislature and was chosen by his colleagues to serve as Speaker of the 17th and 18th Guam Legislatures,respectively.
Benjamin Joseph "BJ" Franquez Cruz is an Chamorro lawyer,jurist,and politician who served as the Speaker of the 34th Guam Legislature from 2017 to 2018 and as Vice Speaker from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party,he previously served in the Guam Legislature from 2005 to 2007 and again from 2008 to 2018. He was Chief Justice of the Guam Supreme Court from 1999 to 2001. In September 2018,Cruz was elected to serve as Public Auditor of Guam.
Michael Warren "Mike" Cruz,M.D. is a surgeon and former politician in Guam,a U.S. territory. Cruz served as the eighth Lieutenant Governor of Guam from 2007 to 2011.
The 2010 Guam gubernatorial election was held on November 2,2010. Republican Governor Felix P. Camacho was term-limited in 2010 and ineligible to run for re-election. In January 2009,the website D.C.'s Political Report predicted that the Republican Party would retain the governorship. Republican Eddie Calvo won the election.
Edward Jerome Baza Calvo is a Guamanian politician,serving as the eighth Governor of the United States territory of Guam from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party,Calvo was a five-term Senator within the Legislature of Guam. He became the Governor of Guam,having defeated Democrat Carl Gutierrez in the 2010 gubernatorial election. Calvo chose Senator Ray Tenorio as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor of Guam.
Raymond Stanley Tenorio is an American Republican politician and former police officer of the Guam Police Department. Tenorio served as a Senator in the Legislature of Guam from January 2003 until January 2011. He served as the ninth Lieutenant Governor of Guam from 2011 to 2019. He unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Guam,losing to Democrat Lou Leon Guerrero in the 2018 gubernatorial election.
Frank Blas Aguon Jr. is a Guamanian politician and army lieutenant. A Democrat,he served in the Legislature of Guam from 1997 to 2007,2009 to 2011 and from 2013 to 2019. He is a former Vice-Speaker from 2003 to 2005.
Michael Franklin Quitugua San Nicolas is a Guamanian Democratic Party politician,currently serving as the delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives for Guam's at-large congressional district. San Nicolas was elected by his colleagues in the 116th United States Congress to serve as vice chair of the United States House Committee on Financial Services. From 2013 to 2019,San Nicolas served as senator in the 32nd,33rd,and 34th Guam legislatures.
Lourdes Aflague "Lou" Leon Guerrero is a Guamanian politician,nurse,public health official and banker serving as the 9th governor of Guam since 2019. Leon Guerrero served 5 terms as a senator in the Guam Legislature from 1995 to 2007 and served for 14 years as president and CEO of the Bank of Guam.
Frank Flores Blas Sr. was a Guamanian politician,businessman and member of the Republican Party of Guam. Blas served as the Lieutenant Governor of Guam from 1987 until 1995 for two consecutive terms under Governor Joseph Franklin Ada.
The Guam general election for 2018 was held in Guam on Tuesday,November 6,2018. Voters in Guam chose their governor,their non-voting delegate to the United States House of Representatives,attorney general,public auditor,as well as all fifteen members of the territorial legislature. The election coincides with the United States mid-term elections.
The 2018 Guam gubernatorial election took place on Tuesday,November 6,2018,to elect the Governor of Guam. Incumbent Republican Governor Eddie Baza Calvo was ineligible for re-election,after his win in 2014,since Guam does not allow governors more than two consecutive terms. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Guam are elected on the same ticket. Five candidates officially declared their bids. After the August 25 primaries,the Republican party nominated Lieutenant Governor Ray Tenorio,while the Democratic party nominated former territorial senator Lou Leon Guerrero. Democratic primary second-placer Frank Aguon Jr. initiated a write-in campaign in hopes of becoming Guam's first write-in elected governor.
Joshua "Josh" Franquez Tenorio is a Guamanian-American Democratic politician and businessman,the tenth and current Lieutenant Governor of Guam,since January 2019. He is the first openly gay lieutenant governor elected in the United States.
The 34th Guam Legislature was the last meeting of the Guam Legislature. It convened in Hagatna,Guam on January 2,2017 and ended on January 7,2019,during the third and fourth years of Eddie Calvo's 2nd Gubernatorial Term.
The 33rd Guam Legislature was a meeting of the Guam Legislature. It convened in Hagatna,Guam on January 5,2015 and ended on January 2,2017,during the 1st and 2nd years of Eddie Calvo's 2nd Gubernatorial Term.
The 30th Guam Legislature was a meeting of the Guam Legislature. It convened in Hagatna,Guam on January 5,2009 and ended on January 3,2011,during the 3rd and 4th years of Felix Camacho's 2nd Gubernatorial Term.
Legislative election also known as Senatorial election for the Legislature of Guam took place on November 4,2014,coinciding with the 2014 United States elections and the Guam gubernatorial election. All 15 seats in the Legislature of Guam were up for election.