As Jalisco’s political parties finally wrapped up internal procedures for selecting candidates for this year’s state elections, Chapala voters have learned the names of the five candidates who will duke it out for the title of presidente municipal.
At this early juncture, local political observers anticipate a tight race between the three men considered as top contenders for the mayor’s seat. While the candidates are prohibited from discussing the specifics of their respective political platforms until the official 60-day campaign period starts in April, the Reporter has compiled sufficient personal data to draw up the following thumbnail sketches of the front runners, listed below in alphabetical order. Each one also provided a brief comment on the greatest challenge he expects to face if elected.
Moisés Anaya Aguilar
Party affiliation: Citizens Movement (MC)
Age: 28.
Profession: lawyer; employment as social science teacher at Preparatoria Chapala.
Family status: Married, father of a two-year-old son.
Political and government experience: Served elective post as Síndico, the Chapala government’s legal representative (2010-2012); acted as Chapala’s interim mayor for three months (2011), making history as the youngest man ever to hold the city’s top post.
Challenge: “Surround myself with capable people to overcome Chapala’s collapsed finances.”
Juan Carlos Pelayo Pelayo
Party affiliation: National Action Party (PAN)
Age: 49.
Profession: lawyer; employment as a public servant and political consultant.
Family status: Married, father of two young adult sons.
Political and government experience: Director of Social Development, Chapala government (2001); Oficial Mayor (personnel manager), Chapala (2002-2003); advisor to Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos mayors (2004-2006 and 2007-2009); Director of Catastro land registry, Chapala (2012-2014).
Challenge: “Exploit Chapala’s full potential to put it in the place where it belongs as a prime tourism axis and place of natural marvels.”
Javier Degollado González
Party affiliation: Institutional Revolutionary Party-Green Ecologist Party of Mexico coalition (PRI-PVEM).
Age: 50.
Family status: Married, father of a teenage daughter.
Profession: Public administration; employment as public servant and political consultant.
Government and political experience: Chief of Social Programs, Puerto Vallarta government (2004-2005); key advisor to Chapala mayor, (his brother Gerardo Degollado ( 2007-2009); Chief of Human Resources Development Unit, Guadalajara government (2012-2014).
Challenge: “Restore the hope and confidence of the people.”
Dark horses
The two dark horse candidates, whose profiles are not yet available, are National Regeneration Movement (Morena) postulant Jesús Hernández Hernández and Edgar Alejandro Ramírez Pérez, running under the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) banner.
Jocottepec candidates
Out in Jocotepec, the field of candidates includes two former mayors who are aiming to make a comeback as the municipality’s chief executive. Felipe de Jesús Rangel Vargas, whose 2007-2009 tenure as mayor was sandwiched between terms as a federal legislator, is the PAN candidate. Jesús Palos Vaca, the PRI-PVEM contender, went on from his 2004-2006 mayoral stint to win the 2012 contest for the District 17 seat in Jalisco’s state congress.
Other names to be slated on the Jocotepec ballot are Héctor Manuel Haro Pérez heading the MC ticket; PRD candidate José Luís Flores Valencia; and Jorge Ramos Leal, representing the New Alliance Party (Panal).
Electoral calendar
The formal registration of mayoral candidates for all 125 Jalisco municipalities will take place from March 2 through 25. The official campaign season runs from April 5 through June 3. Election Day is set for Sunday, June 7, with the new mayors-elect taking office on October 1.
Under recent reforms of electoral laws, for the first time in modern history incumbent mayors will be allowed to stand for immediate reelection when their terms of office end in 2017.