Carrion first became the governor of Marinduque after winning the 1995 gubernatorial election; his wife Imelda Papin also ran for governor in
Camarines Sur in the same year, but lost the election. He served from 1995 to 1998. It was during his term as governor that the
Marcopper mining disaster happened in
Boac, Marinduque. Known as one of the largest mining disasters in the Philippines, it was estimated that rehabilitation of the area would take 25 years and 300 million pesos. Carrion unsuccessfully ran for re-election twice as a member of the party
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, in 1998, 2001, and in 2004 under
Nationalist People's Coalition. Carrion ran again in 2007 as an independent and successfully won the election, defeating the incumbent
Carmencita Reyes. Carrion promised to focus on transforming Marinduque to an eco-tourism spot during his second incumbency as governor, detailing an 8-point executive agenda during his State of the Province Address. Carrion also spent his second term building infrastructure in the province, through coordinating with baranggay units in the creation of farm-to-market roads, construction of school buildings, and institution of agricultural programs. In 2010, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez ordered the stoppage of a "midnight deal" involving allegedly overpriced personal computers worth over P18 million. Carrion denied all charges of overpricing, and that no midnight realignment of funds occurred. He has claimed that the allegations were incorrect and misleading. Carrion served until 2010, but was again unsuccessful in securing the re-election in 2010 and 2013. His final bid for re-election in 2013 was unsuccessful, and he was defeated by Reyes. ==Assassination of Gerry Ortega==