FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 31, 2025
Hagåtña, Guam — Governor Lou Leon Guerrero has transmitted legislation to the Guam Legislature to establish the Guam Elected Officials’ Compensation Commission, creating a permanent, independent process to evaluate and recommend compensation for elected officials based on facts, not politics.
For decades, discussions surrounding the salaries of elected officials have been controversial topics in Guam’s public discourse. Every attempt to set salaries has been clouded by mistrust and political rhetoric, especially since salaries are currently set by Senators. This proposal will depoliticize this process once and for all by removing salary decisions from those who directly benefit from them.
“This bill is about restoring credibility to government,” said Governor Leon Guerrero. “The question of pay for elected officials has been rightfully met with skepticism because no one should ever set their own salary. This proposal will ensure that future decisions are guided by data and fairness.”
Under the proposed bill, the Commission will consist of qualified members from independent agencies and professional organizations. It will review compensation for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, senators, mayors, and vice mayors, and make recommendations grounded in objective data, responsibilities of office, and public accountability.
The Guam Elected Officials’ Compensation Commission will be composed of five members: the Director of the Department of Administration, the President of the Guam Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management, the Public Auditor, the Chief Justice, and the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission, or their designees.
This composition will ensure that the commission’s decisions will be guided by administrative expertise, human resource best practices, financial oversight, and judicial integrity. Together, these members will provide a balanced and credible review of salaries across all branches of government, ensuring fairness and accountability. The commission’s work will be transparent and will be conducted in full compliance with Guam’s Open Government Law and other applicable transparency statutes.
No salary changes recommended by the Commission will take effect until the inauguration of the next Legislature. This safeguard ensures that no current elected official will receive any benefit from the Commission’s first set of recommendations.
“This is about creating a fair, consistent process for the future,” said Governor Leon Guerrero. “By removing politics from the equation, we strengthen the integrity of our institutions and reaffirm that public service is about duty, not self-interest.”
Many jurisdictions across the United States have adopted similar independent commissions to ensure fairness and consistency in how public officials are compensated.
The Governor underscored that this reform is about institutional integrity. “This is about trust, accountability, and respect for the offices that serve our island,” said Governor Leon Guerrero. “We are setting in place a transparent, evidence-based process.”
The bill will undergo legislative review and a public hearing to provide the community with an opportunity to understand the process and offer input.
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