Octubre 07, 2004
Thirteen Candidates
With the deadline passing for political parties and citizen groups to present their candidates to the Electoral Court, thirteen candidates will be listed on the ballot for Mayor of Cochabamba. Nine political parties and 4 citizen groups comprise the ballot.
Early speculation makes the MAS candidate and the new citizen group CU the two favorites. There is a strong feeling that NFR, which was started by former mayor Manfred Reyes Villa, has run its course. During the last term, 6 mayors rotated throughout the term (albeit one who passed away). The political party ADN, whose chief Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga resigned from this party, is not even presenting a candidate for mayor.
CANDIDATES FOR COCHABAMBA
Political Parties
MNR - Ivan Decker
MIR - Samuel Achá
MAS - Gonzalo Lema
MBL - Oscar Terceros
UN - Oscar Bakir
MSM - Javier Garcia
NFR - Johnny Antezana
MIP - Victor Portugal
UCS - Edwin Mallon
Agrupacion Ciudadana
PC (Primero Cochabamba) - Yamal Serham
Reacción Ciudadana - Mario Cortés
Molle - Antonio Galindo
CU (Ciudadanos Unidos) - Gonzalo Terceros
There are other interesting matchups throughout the country including Roberto Fernandez (Alianza XXI) battling his brother Johnny Fernandez (UCS) in Santa Cruz. The former Fernandez is counting on support from Tuto, while the latter Fernandez is struggling to remain relevant in the political scene. The incumbent mayor Juan del Granado (MSM) faces competition from Jaime Paz´ son Jaimito (MIR). In El Alto, the presence of a priest, Wilson Soria (MAS), makes for an interesting storyline.
Elections will be held on December 5, 2004.
Posted by eduardo at Octubre 7, 2004 12:15 PM