The first televised debate among the seven candidates vying to become the next governor of Jalisco was held last Sunday in Guadalajara.
The encounter, which lasted for two hours, was punctuated by a series of personal attacks on several of the candidates, as well as a slew of proposals and promises concerning the four main themes of the debate: transport, environment, jobs and salaries.
Enrique Alfaro of the Citizens Movement – the frontrunner, according to most polls – and Carlos Lomeli of Morena bore the brunt of the attacks from their fellow contenders.
Alfaro was panned by Miguel Castro of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) for his “dismal” performance as mayor of both Tlajomulco and Guadalajara, while Lomeli – a wealthy pharmaceutical company magnate running on a left-wing ticket – was quizzed relentlessly by his adversaries over contracts he obtained with state and federal authorities, alleged links to drug cartels signaled by U.S. authorities and an outstanding criminal charge in Mexico for possession of an unlawful weapon.
Lomeli responded by insisting he is the only one of the seven candidates who can categorically prove the origin of his income and wealth.
Here is a synopsis of some the proposals presented by the candidates.
Enrique Alfaro (Citizens Movement): Optimize functionality of traffic lights in Guadalajara metropolitan area, “dismantle corrupt” speed camera network, clean up Santiago River, incentivize the private sector to offer jobs to young people, improve air quality.
Carlos Lomeli (Morena): Construct schools and “green offices,” donate all his salary to charitable causes and cut wages of top officials in half, increase salaries of teachers, doctors, police, offer scholarships so all young people can continue their studies.
Miguel Castro (Institutional Revolutionary Party): Open a new public university (Universidad de Jalisco), install BRT system on Guadalajara periferico (beltway), develop transportation links to city airport, enact laws to punish businesses that contaminate, open new hospitals and health clinics.
Carlos Orozco (Partido de la Revolución Democrática): Fix Guadalajara bus fares at a maximum of five pesos, extend Tren Ligero (subway) network, prioritize pedestrian infrastructure, build new water treatment plants.
Martha Rosa Araiza Soltero (Nueva Alianza): Subsidize installation of solar panels for low-income households, reorganize Guadalajara’s public transport system, extend Tren Ligero network to Tlajomulco, reduce salary of governor.
Miguel Ángel Martínez (Partido Acción Nacional): Create ten public transportation “corridors” in Guadalajara for a single fare, guarantee city’s water supply, extend Tren Ligero to Tlajomulco, vigorously promote innovation, technology and design sector of local economy.
Salvador Cosío Gaona (Partido Verde Ecologista de Mexico): Extend Tren Ligero lines 1 and 2 and build two more lines, guarantee state’s water supply by revoking share agreement with neighboring Guanajuato, fix traffic light synchronization, expropriate land in private hands in the federally protected Primavera Forest.