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
(1957-10-30) October 30, 1957
Camp Zama, U.S.
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 (Peresu Kamacho Ferikusu Jēmuzu born October 30, 1957, in Camp Zama, U.S.) is a former Governor of Guam from January 6, 2003 to January 3, 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party of Guam.

Biography

Early life

Camacho was born in Camp Zama, U.S. along with his father Carlos Camacho and Lourdes Perez who stayed on Guam. Camacho became 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 Perez and other cousin of a local entrepreneur Valentino Gumataotao Perez.

References

  1. ↑ "Decision 2006". KUAM. Archived from the original on October 24, 2007. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
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Party political offices
Preceded by
Joseph Franklin Ada		 Republican nominee for Governor of Guam
2002 (won)
2006 (won) 		Succeeded by
Eddie Calvo
Political offices
Preceded by
Carl Gutierrez		 Governor of Guam
2003–2011 		Succeeded by
Eddie Calvo
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