Governor Lou Leon Guerrero has introduced legislation to create the Guam Elected Officials’ Compensation Commission, an independent body that would determine salaries for elected officials based on objective data rather than political influence. The measure aims to remove long-standing controversy surrounding how pay is set for the island’s leaders.
“For decades, discussions about salaries have been clouded by mistrust and political rhetoric,” Leon Guerrero said. “No one should ever set their own salary. This proposal restores credibility and ensures fairness through transparency and evidence.”
The five-member commission would include representatives from independent agencies and professional organizations, such as the Department of Administration, the Civil Service Commission, and the Judiciary. It would review compensation for the governor, lieutenant governor, senators, mayors, and vice mayors, using administrative expertise, human resource best practices, and fiscal accountability as guiding principles.
Under the proposal, no salary changes would take effect until after the next inauguration, ensuring current officeholders receive no immediate benefit. The governor said the reform aligns Guam with other U.S. jurisdictions that use independent commissions to promote fairness and public trust. “By removing politics from the equation,” she said, “we strengthen the integrity of our institutions.”