Lou Leon Guerrero facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lou Leon Guerrero
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Guerrero in 2024
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| 9th Governor of Guam | |
| Assumed office January 7, 2019 |
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| Lieutenant | Josh Tenorio |
| Preceded by | Eddie Calvo |
| Senator of the Guam Legislature | |
| In office January 1, 2001 – January 1, 2007 |
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| In office January 2, 1995 – January 4, 1999 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Lourdes Aflague Leon Guerrero
November 8, 1950 Guam |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Jeffrey Cook |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Government House |
| Education | California State University, Los Angeles (BS) University of California, Los Angeles (MPH) University of Washington (GrDip) |
| Signature |  |
Lourdes Aflague "Lou" Leon Guerrero (born November 8, 1950) is an American politician. She used to be a nurse. Since 2019, she has been the ninth Governor of Guam.
As a member of the Democratic Party, Governor Leon Guerrero is the first woman to hold this important position. Before becoming governor, she served as a senator in the Guam Legislature. She was a senator from 1995 to 1999 and again from 2001 to 2007. From 2007 to 2017, she was the president and CEO of the Bank of Guam.
Lou Leon Guerrero was born and grew up in Guam. She studied nursing at California State University, Los Angeles. She also earned a Master of Public Health degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. She worked as a nurse in both California and Guam. She even became the president of the Guam Nurses Association.
In 2018, Leon Guerrero decided to run for governor of Guam. She and her running mate, Josh Tenorio, won the election. She became governor on January 7, 2019. As governor, she has worked on important laws. These include raising the minimum wage in Guam. She also led the territory's efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic. She was reelected for a second term in 2022.
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Early Life and Education
Lou Leon Guerrero was born in Guam. Her father, Jesus Sablan Leon Guerrero, started the Bank of Guam. She has two brothers, Jesse and Anthony.
She went to high school at the Academy of Our Lady of Guam. After high school, she moved to Southern California for college and work. In 1973, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She got this degree from California State University, Los Angeles.
Later, in 1979, she earned a Master of Public Health degree. This was from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In 2009, she went back to school in Seattle, Washington. She received a master's degree from Pacific Coast Banking School.
Nursing Career
Lou Leon Guerrero started her nursing career in California. She worked as a staff nurse at Santa Monica Hospital. In 1980, she returned to Guam.
She worked at Guam Memorial Hospital in 1980. She eventually became the hospital's assistant nursing director. After that, she worked at the Family Health Plan clinic. She served as the Director of Operations there from 1990 to 1994.
Early Political Career
Leon Guerrero served as a senator in the Guam Legislature for several terms. She helped create the Healthy Futures Fund. This fund helps pay for medical care and cancer research in Guam. She also helped pass the Natasha Protection Act. This law controls public smoking.
Becoming a Senator (1995–1999)
First Term in Legislature
Lou Leon Guerrero first ran for senator in 1994. She won the election and became a senator. She started her first term in the 23rd Guam Legislature in January 1995. During this time, she helped create 18 public laws.
Second Term in Legislature
Leon Guerrero ran for reelection in 1996. She won again and served in the 24th Guam Legislature. In this term, she helped create 6 public laws.
Running for Lieutenant Governor (1998)
In 1998, Lou Leon Guerrero ran for Lieutenant Governor of Guam. She was the running mate for Senator Tom Ada. They ran together in the Democratic primary election. However, they did not win this election.
Returning to the Legislature (2001–2007)
Serving in the 26th Legislature
Leon Guerrero returned to public service in 2000. She ran for a seat in the 26th Guam Legislature. She won and became a senator again. During this term, she helped create 5 public laws.
Serving in the 27th Legislature
In 2002, Leon Guerrero ran for election to the 27th Guam Legislature. She won her seat. As a senator in this term, she helped create 21 public laws.
Serving in the 28th Legislature
Leon Guerrero was reelected to the 28th Guam Legislature in 2004. During this term, she wrote 27 bills. Nine of these bills became public laws.
Business and Non-Profit Work
In 2007, Lou Leon Guerrero was recognized as Guam's Women in Business Champion. She also studied at Pacific Coast Banking School. She graduated from there in 2009.
She followed in her father's and brother's footsteps. She became the chairwoman, CEO, and president of the Bank of Guam. In 2011, she also became a director at BankGuam Holding Company. Guam Business Magazine named her Guam’s 2010 Executive of the Year.
Helping Non-Profit Groups
Since 2009, Lou Leon Guerrero has been the Board Chair for Guampedia. Guampedia is a website that shares information about Guam. She also helped start the Guam Women's Chamber of Commerce. She was its first president.
Elections
Running for Governor in 2018
In February 2017, former senator Leon Guerrero announced she would run for Governor of Guam. She chose Josh Tenorio to be her running mate. They faced three other Democratic teams in the primary election. They won the primary with 32% of the votes.
In the general election, Leon Guerrero became Guam's first female governor. She defeated the Tenorio/Ada team with 50.7% of the votes.
Running for Governor in 2022
Leon Guerrero ran for reelection in 2022. Josh Tenorio was again her running mate. They won the election.
Governor of Guam (2019–Present)
Lou Leon Guerrero became the 9th Governor of Guam on January 7, 2019. Her inauguration ceremony took place at the University of Guam.
Key Policy Initiatives
Minimum Wage Increase
In September 2019, Governor Leon Guerrero supported a plan to raise Guam's minimum wage. She signed a bill in October 2019 to increase it in steps. The first step raised the minimum wage to $8.75 per hour in March 2020. Later, a bill was passed to delay further increases for six months. This was to help businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the minimum wage has since been raised to $9.25 an hour.
War Claims for World War II Survivors
In July 2019, a bill was introduced to speed up payments for war claims. These claims are for survivors of terrible events during World War II in Guam. In October 2019, Lieutenant Governor Josh Tenorio worked to get support for these war claims in Washington, D.C.
Governor Leon Guerrero signed the war claims bill into law on January 3, 2020. The first checks were given out at a ceremony on January 29, 2020. By February, many Guam World War II survivors received their payments.
Managing the COVID-19 Pandemic
"Path to Half" Vaccination Campaign
On March 15, 2021, Governor Leon Guerrero announced a plan called "Path to Half." Her goal was to vaccinate half of Guam's adult population by May 1. The "Path to Half" goal was reached three days earlier than planned.
Personal Life
Governor Guerrero is married to attorney Jeff Cook. They have two children, Joaquin and Mariana. She also has seven grandchildren.
