The delay in the ruling Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) in announcing the ruling party’s candidate for capital city mayor could well be that Carolina Mejia is anything but keen about a repeat. She took on the candidacy in 2020 when her predecessor, today Minister of Tourism David Collado, rejected running again despite high poll ratings.
Now, opposition party candidate, Domingo Contreras is pushing the point that the city of Santo Domingo should vote for a candidate who wants to be mayor. Contreras is the candidate for the coalition of the Dominican Liberation Party and the People’s Force. People’s Force is the dissident political party formed by former President Leonel Fernandez when he disputed the automated voting primary that had him winning comfortably until a drastic change in votes with the final reading resulting in Gonzalo Castillo being chosen the presidential candidate for the PLD in the 2020 presidential election.
Media reports indicate that Carolina Mejia, who is the secretary general for the ruling PRM party, spends most of her time on party campaign matters and has less time for the city government.
“I would ask why should she run if she does not want to be a candidate,” Contreras has said. “In fact, she has said so. She wants to be President and dedicates part of her time as secretary general of her party to events outside the city,” he highlighted. “This city needs a full-time mayor,” said Contreras.
As reported, President Luis Abinader has asked Carolina to run for mayor and she has already begun her campaign. Nevertheless, the PRM has yet to make the announcement.
Even before the flooding of the capital city on 18 November, in an interview on 15 November, Contreras had urged that attention be given to organizing traffic and rainwater drainage in the capital city. He has also pointed out that by city governments depositing asphalt on asphalt on city streets, the street levels affect the adequate flow of waters through the drains. In some cases, street levels are higher than the city drains, resulting in the flooding of residential towers.
Around noon on 18 November 2023, Mejia called a press conference to announce the city had not suffered damages. By 5pm, the city was flooded with billions in losses and numerous deaths in the capital city.
During the administration of Carolina Mejia a record number of residential towers have been built in the capital city, worsening the condition of Santo Domingo has a cement jungle. Mejia has inaugurated public city parks, marked by cemented areas and little greenery.
As reported, President Luis Abinader has asked Carolina Mejia to continue in the position because polls show she is likely to win the position. In 2020, after the cancelation of the municipal election due to device failure, Contreras lost to Carolina Mejia, despite the polls in January had forecast he would win.
Apparently, the problem within the PRM is that a better candidate has yet to be found and thus Carolina Mejia is being asked to stay put. Early contenders for the position, Neney Cabrera, Alberto Atallah, Orlando Jorge Villegas and Aníbal Díaz did not come near the positioning of Mejia.
Last weekend, Faride Raful, senator for the National District, spoke out criticizing that her political party, the PRM, had not announced the choice for senator and mayor in the capital city. Raful, contrary to Mejia, wants to continue in the position as the candidate for the PRM.
Carolina Mejia is the daughter of former President Hipolito Mejia (2000-2004). Carolina Mejia worked with him in the Presidential Palace. Hipolito Mejia did not win his bid for reelection.
Domingo Contreras previously was secretary general of the city government under the administration of Roberto Salcedo. He resigned to begin actions to run for mayor.
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Noticias SIN
Diario Libre
Hoy
28 November 2023