Felix Perez Camacho

The Honorable Felix Perez Camacho
7th Governor of Guam
In office January 6, 2003 – January 3, 2011
Lieutenant	Michael Cruz (2007–2011) Kaleo Moylan (2003–2007)
Preceded by	Carl Gutierrez
Succeeded by	Eddie Calvo
Senator of the 22nd, 23rd, 24th, and 26th Guam Legislature
In office January 4, 1993 – January 6, 2003
Personal details
Born	Felix James Perez Camacho October 30, 1957 Camp Zama, Japan
Citizenship	Guamanian
Nationality	Chamorro
Political party	Republican Party of Guam
Spouse(s)	Joann Gumataotao Camacho
Alma mater	Marquette University
Profession	Software executive
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Felix James Pérez Camacho (ペレス・カマチョ・フェリクス・ジェームズ Peresu Kamacho Ferikusu Jēmuzu, born October 30, 1957, in Camp Zama, Japan) is a former Governor of Guam from January 6, 2003 to January 3, 2011. He is a member of the United States Republican Party.

Biography

Early life

Camacho was born in Camp Zama, Japan along with his father Carlos Camacho and Lourdes Pérez who stayed on Guam. Camacho become Guam's first elected governor, was serving in the military. He was raised in Tamuning, Guam and was educated in the Catholic school system. He then received a degree in business administration and finance in 1980 from Marquette University.^[1]

Political career

Camacho has held positions with Pacific Financial Corporation as an insurance manager and with IBM as an account administrator. In March 1988, Governor Joseph Ada appointed him as deputy director of the Public Utility Agency of Guam and later that year he was chosen as executive director of the department. In 1992, Camacho was elected as senator in the Twenty-second Guam Legislature, and was subsequently re-elected in 1994 and 1996. As a senator, he served as chairman of the Committee on Tourism, Transportation, and Economic Development. He also served as a majority whip.

In 1998, Camacho was the running mate of Joseph Ada in the hotly contested gubernatorial campaign. Their loss resulted in Camacho's absence from public office for the next two years. Having won in the 2000 legislative election, Camacho returned to the legislature and regained his chairmanship, as well as the position of assistant majority leader.

Governor of Guam (2003–2011)

Camacho-Moylan went on to defeat Speaker Antonio "Tony" Unpingco in the Republican primary election on August 31, 2002 and ran against Guam Delegate Congressman Robert A. Underwood and his running mate, Senator Thomas "Tom" C. Ada for general election. In 2002, Camacho teamed up with fellow senator Kaleo Moylan to run for Guam's governor and lieutenant governor and defeated Democratic contenders of the Underwood-Ada Campaign.

Due to various disagreements with Moylan during their first term, Camacho picked freshman senator Michael W. Cruz, M.D. as his running mate in 2006. Camacho again defeated Robert Underwood (this time with senator Frank Aguon, Jr. as running mate) to win the governorship for a second term.

He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and participates in many civic activities. He was honored as one of the Outstanding Young Men of America and received the Pacific Jaycees Three Young Outstanding People award.

Personal life

He is married to Joann Gumataotao Camacho and has three children. Mrs. Camacho is a niece of Vicente "Ben" Gumataotao, the mayor of Piti and first cousin of Jose Gumataotao, the husband of the current US Treasurer, Rosa Gumataotao Rios, also the cousin of a working judge Vernon Pérez and other cousin of a local entrepreneur Valentino Gumataotao Pérez.

References

1. "Decision 2006". KUAM. Archived from the original on October 24, 2007. Retrieved 2009-06-30.

External links

• Official Site of the Governor of Guam Felix Pérez Camacho (Spanish)