Over two decades of covering the local news for this newspaper and 25 years of residence prior to the job, I’ve had the opportunity to watch 15 of Chapala’s presidentes municipales (mayors) come and go, each with his own distinctive personality and style of governance.
Those characteristics are crystallized in the delivery of the annual Informe de Gobierno when the chief executive gives a formal reckoning of government performance.
I’ve witnessed every imaginable speaking style as these events. Arturo Gutierrez (2003-2006), who was well schooled in oratory, delivered blazing speeches invariably opening with a short philosophical statement and hitting high points with bursts in volume. At his first Informe, Jesús Cabrera (2010-2012) broke out into a visible sweat, suggesting an attack of stage fright as he battled through the task. Joaquín Huerta (2013-2015) admitted he wasn’t a skilled politician but his humble demeanor and frank confessions of failings were a refreshing departure from others prone to chest-beating pronouncements.
The manner of presenting the Informe has evolved over the years. The earliest ones I recall consisted of dry, lengthy speeches riddled with mind-numbing facts and figures. With new technology, communication wizards brought in slide shows, slickly edited videos, musical tracks and plasma screens that enhanced the entertainment factor.
Informe venues have varied as well, setting different moods to the proceedings. With its wide stage and ample seating capacity, the Auditorio de la Ribera in La Floresta has been the consistent place of choice. Other locations have included the city hall lobby, outdoor spots along the waterfront Malecón and most recently, the new assembly hall built inside in the former town hall building.
Current mayor Javier Degollado first announced he was bringing a whole new twist to the Informe, rallying the masses for a glitzy spectacle at the new mall in front of government headquarters. For whatever logistical reason, it was finally booked at the Auditorio where standard protocol was followed. What stood out was the row of simple wooden deck chairs that substituted the usual table-and-folding-chair setting for city council members and distinguished guests appearing on the stage.
The now familiar video presentation showing government at work started strong with stark black and white flashes of deterioration the municipality presumably suffered under the mayor’s predecessors. But the film fizzled with a less than coherent storyline, mismatched visuals and audio tracks and a flat ending.
Still, an ebullient Degollado put his personal stamp on the Informe by ditching a prepared speech to launch into off-the-cuff remarks summing up what he clearly sees as a year of stunning accomplishment. He is a man who appears uncomfortable when reading from a written text, and in his element while spouting ad lib on talking points he knows by heart.
As I mull over Informe history, I conclude that every mayor has had strong points on a personal and professional level. Each has achieved things that have benefited the constituency. And none has managed to solve a number of nitty-gritty problems that have persisted from one administration to the next.