Former Jalisco Governor Guillermo Cosio Vidaurri, who saw his political career curtailed in the wake of the April, 1992, sewer line explosions in Guadalajara, died this week at the age of 90.
Cosio Vidaurri belonged to the old guard of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), serving as mayor of Guadalajara from 1971 to 1973, federal deputy for Jalisco from 1976 to 1979, and as secretary general of the PRI’s National Executive Committee in 1981. He was named secretary general of the Mexico City government in 1982, a position he held until his nomination for Jalisco governor in 1988. After winning the election comfortably, he took office on March 1, 1989.
Cosio Vidaurri’s popularity began to wane after he faced multiple accusations of corruption and nepotism that he brushed off as slanderous lies. But the criticism heightened after the horrific events of April 22, 1992, when thousands of gallons of gasoline that had leaked into the city’s sewage system exploded, destroying eight kilometers of downtown streets, killing more than 200 people, injuring almost 2,000 and destroying or damaging hundreds of homes and businesses.
Cosio Vidaurri foolishly jumped the gun and quickly – and wrongly – accused a cooking oil firm of causing the explosions. (State oil company Pemex was later found to be the culprit.) Public wrath at how such a tragedy could happen focused on the governor, whose standing was already low. After several demonstrations and repeated calls for his resignation, Cosio Vidaurri quit the governor’s seat on April 30, citing “the systematic attacks” and “calumny” as the reason he was unable to continue. In his resignation speech he never once mentioned the April 22 tragedy as a motive for his leaving.
The only official post Cosio Vidaurri held after his resignation was a stint as ambassador to Guatemala.
Cosio Vidaurri was mourned by family members Wednesday at a Guadalajara funeral home, and his coffin was taken to the Congress building the following day to lie in state and be honored with a homage.
During the homage, Alfaro said Cosio’s work ethic and dedication served as an example to others, and praised his legacy, which included a score of public works.
The former governor’s son, Salvador Cosío Gaona, said his father was a “democrat” who carried out his duties with “tolerance, inclusion and respect.”
The coffin was subsequently taken to the State Government Palace, the Guadalajara Municipal Palace and the headquarters of the PRI.