PAN candidate accepts transparency challenge
Juan Carlos Pelayo Pelayo of the National Action Party (PAN) is the first and so far only candidate for Chapala mayor to register with the Candidato Transparente #3de3
initiative promoted by non-government organizations. Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO) and Mexican Transparency (TM).
Launched in February, the Transparent Candidate project is an online platform developed to encourage men and women running in Mexico’s 2015 elections into disclosing personal income and holdings, business interests and tax records for scrutiny by the electorate. Running under the slogan “If they ask for your vote, ask them to publish #3de3,” it likewise urges constituents to demand transparency from political candidates and future office-holders.
Dark horse employs coupons to boost votes
Mario Ferrer Villafuente, a dark horse mayoral candidate running under the banner of the New Alliance Party (PANAL), has come up with some novel ideas to encourage Chapala voters to jump on his bandwagon.
A half-page flyer Ferrer hands out on his door-to-door visits to constituents includes a clip-off coupon on which the voter can write down a concern or proposal to be “exchanged” for Ferrer’s suggested solution.
The candidate is also pitching the concept of greater autonomy for Chapala’s satellite communities, advocating that freely elected administrators for each town take over management of the revenue generated by its inhabitants.
PRI-PVEM promises bigger, better police force
A larger municipal police force, with well-equipped, better trained officers working with higher salaries and full benefits, is the main pillar of the public security platform revealed last week by Javier Degollado Gonzalez, the Institutional Revolutionary Party-Green Party (PRI-PVEM) alliance candidate for Chapala mayor.
Degollado shared his vision for a safer, more secure community at an April 24 meeting with a small group of expat residents. Curiously, among the 20 foreigners on hand for the occasion, most of those who spoke up seemed to be far more concerned about traffic issues in Ajijic than matters of crime and police protection.
Mayoral contenders to face-off at May 14 forum
As Chapala’s seven registered mayoral candidates pump up for the final frenzy of their election campaigns, the local branch of Guadalajara’s National Chamber of Commerce (CANACO) has invited the contenders to face-off at an open public forum, lending them an opportunity to state their respective positions on key issues of interest to the electorate.
The encounter is scheduled for Thursday, May 14, 10 a.m., at the Robert Kleffel Auditorium on the campus of the Instituto Tecnológico Superior, located on the Libramiento bypass. A CANACO representative from Guadalajara will moderate the political gabfest.
A standard debate format has been ruled out due to restrictions set by Jalisco’s Electoral and Citizen Participation Institute.