In a big shuffle of Chapala’s city council this week, Oscar España Ramos took charge as acting interim mayor Tuesday, March 20.
He steps in for Javier Degollado González, who bowed out for a leave of absence to hit the campaign trail in his bid for reelection under the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) banner.
The three-month campaign period begins March 30.
Degollado’s unpaid leave is for an indefinite period, at least until after the July 2 election.
Substitutions on the cabildo (council) started March 19, when Moises Anaya Aguilar and Juan de Dios García Velasco were granted leave under the same conditions.
Anaya is running for the mayor’s job as candidate for the Movimiento Ciudadano (MC) party.Jorge Gomez Hernandez was named as his temporary replacement.
García is taking a time-out to coordinate the District 17 campaign for PRI presidential candidate José Antonio Meade. He is also the alternate for Tomás Figueroa Padilla, the party’s candidate for district representative in the state legislature. Moises Padilla Vazquez joined the cabildo as García’s replacement.
España was already serving on the Cabildo (city council) as the municipality’s Síndico (legal counsel), an elective post. He previously held the same position during the 2007-2009 administration. City councilwoman Arlette Romo Silva was appointed to take over his duties for the interim.
Although candidates currently holding public office are not legally obligated to resign or take leave from their jobs while campaigning, most do so to avoid the appearance of neglecting their duties and making use of government resources to gain advantage.
In this year’s election, Jalisco voters will cast ballots for the nation’s president, federal deputies and senators representing them in the Congreso de la Unión, members of the state legislature, and local governments in 125 municipalities.
New mayors and their cabildos will be sworn in on September 30 to begin their three-year terms the following day.