The Mayor of Ayamonte, Rafael González, has announced his intention not to stand for re-election in the municipal elections on 27 May next, despite announcing on 2 November that he would win by an absolute majority.
True to his usual practise, the Mayor announced his decision at the close of the "XI Days of History of Ayamonte", and let it be understood that this is "a strictly personal" decision, although there is some indication that the PSOE would have reached an agreement with him which would leave His Worship with some undisclosed compensation.
The most likely candidate to replace Sr González is the local secretary of the Ayamontinos Socialists, Antonio Castle. Although Sr González had aserted in a press conference on 2 November that he had accepted the PSOE nomination and that this decision was conditional on accomplishing - within 6 months - the previously unpublicised dredging of the bar at the entrance to the Rio Guadiana and the construction of a fishing boat refuge at Punta Moral, he has nevertheless now announced that "after discussions with my family, I have reached the conclusion that the best thing for my health and the locality is a change of cycle, because the project is exhausted and I am lacking ideas".
The Huelva PSOE Secretary, Mario Jiménez, emphasized, after hearing the news that Sr González will not be contesting the next Ayamonte election, that in spite of being controversial, he spared no efforts on behalf of the town, which were of considerable value. For that reason, he concluded that, whatever his final decision, Sr González will continue to have the respect of the Party and still has the capacity and energy to play an important role in the province" although the PSOE has sufficient competent people to guarantee a new period of socialist local government in Ayamonte.
Opposition groups in the City Council are doubtful of the Mayor's intentions. Sr Jiménez stated that he respects the decision made public by the Mayor, although he did not discount the possibility that he would "reframe his position". Sr Jiménez emphasized that "if Sr González finally decides to contest the election, he could count on the support of the Party to continue governing the town as he has capacity to carry on for four years and more with the development and changes introduced in the municipality during the past years which, whilst respecting the geographic, traditional and cultural idiosyncrasy of Ayamonte, have turned it an economic motor of the zone and a tourist destiny of first quality". However, he indicated that, should the Mayor not stand for re-election, "He will also have the support and recognition of the Party for his efforts during these years which have witnessed a very important Mayor".
Sr González had announced that although he had accepted several weeks ago to head the list for the next municipal elections, this was conditional on the resolution of a number of requests put to him by the Party. He further explained that if it appears that "I will be for working four years for my city, it would be another matter to accept a caramel that is bitter-sweet for me and for Ayamonte, which I will never do, because I must continue living in this city, in which my children and grandchildren also live. If I have accepted to head the list, it is because I still have the strength and dreams for the continued agrandissement of Ayamonte". These were the words of the Mayor some weeks ago, before he decided to change his opinion. |
