President Hipolito Mejia?s close aide, Hernani Salazar, who has been supervisor of public works during the Mejia administration, overseeing million-peso budgets, and was one of the key promoters of Mejia?s failed re-election campaign, would like to be the next senator for the province of Duarte (San Francisco de Macoris). The next congressional elections are to be held in May 2006. Salazar reportedly shed tears at the inauguration of public works in San Francisco de Macoris in appreciation for President Mejia?s support in converting several of dreams for his city to reality.
Works inaugurated included two churches, two softball stadiums, the San Francisco branch of the UASD, the social club for the Dominican College of Engineers and Architects, two schools, several community roads, a highway, an electricity network and a cancer center, according to Hoy newspaper.
As a sideline, Diario Libre reports that when someone approached President Mejia with a ?deme algo? request, he responded: ?I do not give money, Hernani does. I only give pity.?