Voters seek senators with a focus on health, education and public safety | News

The fifteen senators who take office in 2025 should take note: many of your constituents have been paying attention over the past two years, and many of them are not happy about it.

All voters interviewed by the Pacific Daily News on Saturday believe senators can do more, and do it better, if they work collectively.

Lita Larz of Barrigada thinks senators can do more to get beggars and people without homes off the streets.

“They should at least give them a space, do something for them and give them some improvement for those people,” she said. “Sometimes they are scary when they can come right up to your car. It’s really not nice for the island. They could use improvement.”

Larz said senators can also do more to help the uninsured get quality medical care to improve their health.

Austin Fernandez of Yona said the government should hurry up and open a motorsport circuit already. He and his daughter Auhriene, 8, both love racing quads, but that’s no longer possible since Guam Raceway Park closed.

“The people of Guam need a place where everyone can go and take their madness somewhere where it will be controlled, instead of taking it out on the streets,” he said. “I’ve seen it a lot lately, like people are doing that all over the road. It is better that this happens in a controlled area and that no one else is put at risk.”

April Mendiola may remain in Yigo, but her connections to the southern part of the island run deep.

‘We need a hospital in the south. I’m sorry, but that has always been one of my dreams,” she said.

Her friend Divina Danila, from Barrigada, said the government should hurry and open the clinic in Mangilao.

“It’s been going on for three years, and I’m waiting,” Danila said. “They’re trying to hire people, but I hope they hire more local people, because I see a lot of travelers especially, and you know, I try to support the locals.”

Toto resident Benita Lizama had a lot to say about the next legislature.

“Not only do they have to work with themselves as senators, but they have to work with the governor, you know, and make it right. Because I don’t think it matters who the governor is, or who the senators are… who the people are, that’s what they need to focus on,” she said. “We want them to work together and communicate what is best for the people, for the island. Because we’re too small to bicker.”

‘And what else? They need to improve education, schools and the school environment and I think they should also honor the teachers. I think they need to improve safety in the schools. And the teachers pay, and I say that because I’m a teacher.”

Toto’s Tony Garcia said the new senators should focus on public safety.

‘Keep the bad people behind bars. And we need drug testing for law enforcement, more often, I mean, do that every month,” he said. ‘And we need a new hospital in the south. And the roads, you know, maintain the roads. Get the funding and spend it on the roads, not elsewhere. How often do you drive at night and not see the white lines, causing you to swerve? In any case, but above all, that is education. That fuss we had about schools that didn’t pass inspection on time. The children don’t have to experience that, that’s a lot of nonsense on the part of the government.”