Profession Software executive Parents Carlos Camacho Citizenship Guamanian Name Felix Camacho | Nationality Japanese Spouse Joann Camacho Succeeded by Eddie Calvo | |
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Full Name Felix James Perez Camacho Previous office Governor of Guam (2003–2011) | ||
Felix James Pérez Camacho (born October 30, 1957) is an American politician and former 7th Governor of Guam from January 6, 2003 to January 3, 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party of Guam.
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Early life
Camacho was born in Camp Zama, a U.S. military base in Guam, to Carlos Camacho and Lourdes Perez. He was raised in Tamuning, Guam and was educated in the Catholic school system. Camacho's father became Guam's last appointed governor in 1969 and first elected governor in 1971. Camacho then received a degree in business administration and finance in 1980 from Marquette University.
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 Franklin 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 Cruz, M.D. as his running mate in 2006. Camacho again defeated Robert A. 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.
Congressional run
In 2016 he ran against Democrat incumbent Madeleine Bordallo to represent Guam's at-large congressional district, but was defeated 53% to 47%.
Personal life
He is married to Joann Garcia and has three children (Jessica C. Blas, Felix "Champ" Jr., Maria) including his three grandchildren (Colin, Ray). 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.