Dr. José Francisco Peña Gómez has proclaimed himself as a candidate for mayor of Santo Domingo for the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano. The principal politician of the leading opposition party chose to run for mayor as a solution to the crisis affecting the PRD after he did not accept the results of the primary that were held for that position. Preliminary reports placed Julio Mariñez, who was endorsed by the present mayor of Santo Domingo, Rafael Suberví Bonilla, as the winner of the primary. The other two contenders, Miguel Vargas and Eligio Jaquez, supported Peña Gómez’s decision. Julio Marínez refused to comment on Peña Gómez’s decision. Peña said he has chosen to sacrifice his health and run for mayor in order to avoid that the city hall be used by party politicians to further divide the organization, especially since the party has not yet chosen the presidential candidate for the year 2000. Peña Gómez, who suffers from cancer of the pancreas, said that if he should win the post, he would only "be mayor for some time." He said that the candidate for vice mayor would probably be the next mayor of the city of Santo Domingo as due to his health condition, he would not be able to complete the four year term. The candidate for vice mayor has not yet been announced. Peña Gómez has left the candidates for this position in the hands of the pre-candidates. If Peña were to be elected mayor of Santo Domingo in this May’s municipal and congressional election, it would be a repeat for him. He was mayor of the city from 1982-1986, under the Dr. Salvador Jorge Blanco PRD government. Peña Gómez instructed to choose other party candidates for municipal and congressional positions in the provinces by consensus, in order to recover lost time and avoid new confrontations within the party.
