the region's new rulers: Feb 6th election results

**ryberg** · 02-07-2005

Just in case anyone wants to know, looks like mostly same as usual in politics here. The long-time champs the PRI party (the ones who had a 70+ year run on the presidency of Mexico until Fox was elected a few years ago) has won the governorship of Quintana Roo as well as having landing the mayoral positions in both Benito Juarez (read "Cancún") and Solidaridad (read "Playa/Tulum").

Perhaps the best news is that the former mayor of Cancún, the infamous "Chaco," who to date cannot account for millions of dollars he had control over while in office there, lost the race for governor. Yes, in Mexico you can not only make off with millions but at the same time run for a higher office, and in fact in this case, you can win a substantial portion of the vote, looks like about 1/3 overall. (He's a populist and many of the more disenfranchised apparently vote for him.)

The new mayor here is Carlos Joaquin, a member of the Joaquin family of Cozumel (think "Kennedy" for the context of this region and you basically have it), whose fortunes began when the now elderly Nassim Joaquin basically single-handedly turned the region into a tourist destination by hitching his wagon to the cruise ship industry in Cozumel. It seems that the government saw what the light and caught on and then decided to create Cancún more or less out of thin air, after which of course Playa and the Riviera Maya began to experience growth, as well. Carlos Joaquin has said that infrastructure improvements such as more street paving and an increase in the educational offering are among his priorities.

Actually Cozumel produced one of the only surprises: the PRI lost to a PAN rival who was with the PRI until he lost the nomination, at which point he jumped parties. This is also amazingly common here, creating an effect like free agents jumping teams at the drop of a hat.

Well just in case you wanted to know...

Steve

**Susie Q Roo** · 02-07-2005

Steve, I thought I remembered signs for somebody named ChacHo... did I just get it wrong or was that someone else? His signs said something about being the man for the pueblo or something like that. Of course, I couldn't really tell who was running for what. I'll be glad when all those signs are removed/replaced with something else!

**tommy** · 02-07-2005

So I guess Alex _______? didnt win...His signs were every five feet!

**ryberg** · 02-07-2005

That was the same Chacho named in my post, yes. Many signs claimed that he would be "coming to the rescue" of the state. HA!

Don't think there was any Alex. You may be thinking of Felix, as in Félix González, who is the new governor.

Steve

**tommy** · 02-07-2005

Yes your right...Felix it was....So the signs paid off eh?

**Susie Q Roo** · 02-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryberg

That was the same Chacho named in my post, yes. Many signs claimed that he would be "coming to the rescue" of the state. HA!

Steve

But he looked like such a nice man!

Actually, I had asked a friend who is a waiter in Cancun who he would vote for and he said Chacho. I asked him why, and he said, "I dunno?" Now that I know who the guy is AND that he was the one who ran Cancun into the ground, I find that pretty interesting.

jwp0077 · 02-07-2005

The voters were lined up early Sunday, this picture was taken in the square about an hour before the polling opened

jwp0077 · 02-07-2005

vote in Playa

Softy57 · 02-07-2005

After seeing 100s of signs from Cancun to Coba & PDC.Bet there is 40 between 1st Ave. and the road to Toucan & Mamitas beach clubs!Hope Mr. Joaquin will focus on the best for PDC,not Cozumel or private interests.

Sol · 02-07-2005

Steve,

Thanks for posting the results of the election.

Alicia

02-08-2005

Thanks for the results! I have been looking on the internet for the results...they are sort of difficult to find. I met a guy down in Playa whose father was involved in politics so from time to time I check out whats going on down there.

Steve and Susita,

Can you vote or are you not citizens?

**ryberg** · 02-09-2005

I'm not a citizen, so no voting for me.

One point to update my original post: apparently there is a change of sorts from the election in that the ruling PRI party lost their absolute majority in the state legislature. They still have a plurality -- 7 seats -- but with 4 seats now in the hands of each of the other 2 main parties, the PRI cannot just proceed with whatever it wants to do. One editorial I've seen blamed this situation on the outgoing PRI governor, Joaquin Hendricks Díaz.

Steve

02-07-2005	#1 (permalink)
ryberg playa maya guy Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: wandering between the Village Vanguard, NYC, 1961 and the Plugged Nickel, Chicago, 1965 Posts: 9,556	the region's new rulers: Feb 6th election results Just in case anyone wants to know, looks like mostly same as usual in politics here. The long-time champs the PRI party (the ones who had a 70+ year run on the presidency of Mexico until Fox was elected a few years ago) has won the governorship of Quintana Roo as well as having landing the mayoral positions in both Benito Juarez (read "Cancún") and Solidaridad (read "Playa/Tulum"). Perhaps the best news is that the former mayor of Cancún, the infamous "Chaco," who to date cannot account for millions of dollars he had control over while in office there, lost the race for governor. Yes, in Mexico you can not only make off with millions but at the same time run for a higher office, and in fact in this case, you can win a substantial portion of the vote, looks like about 1/3 overall. (He's a populist and many of the more disenfranchised apparently vote for him.) The new mayor here is Carlos Joaquin, a member of the Joaquin family of Cozumel (think "Kennedy" for the context of this region and you basically have it), whose fortunes began when the now elderly Nassim Joaquin basically single-handedly turned the region into a tourist destination by hitching his wagon to the cruise ship industry in Cozumel. It seems that the government saw what the light and caught on and then decided to create Cancún more or less out of thin air, after which of course Playa and the Riviera Maya began to experience growth, as well. Carlos Joaquin has said that infrastructure improvements such as more street paving and an increase in the educational offering are among his priorities. Actually Cozumel produced one of the only surprises: the PRI lost to a PAN rival who was with the PRI until he lost the nomination, at which point he jumped parties. This is also amazingly common here, creating an effect like free agents jumping teams at the drop of a hat. Well just in case you wanted to know... Steve Last edited by ryberg : 02-07-2005 at 10:57 AM.

02-07-2005	#7 (permalink)
jwp0077 way into it Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Minnesota Posts: 181	Vote in Playa The voters were lined up early Sunday, this picture was taken in the square about an hour before the polling opened

02-07-2005	#8 (permalink)
jwp0077 way into it Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Minnesota Posts: 181	picture vote in Playa Attached Images

02-07-2005	#9 (permalink)
Softy57 añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Massachusetts,U.S.A. Posts: 1,697	Thanks Steve-I'm interested After seeing 100s of signs from Cancun to Coba & PDC.Bet there is 40 between 1st Ave. and the road to Toucan & Mamitas beach clubs!Hope Mr. Joaquin will focus on the best for PDC,not Cozumel or private interests.

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02-07-2005	#2 (permalink)
Susie Q Roo Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Location: Q Roo Posts: 9,742	Steve, I thought I remembered signs for somebody named ChacHo... did I just get it wrong or was that someone else? His signs said something about being the man for the pueblo or something like that. Of course, I couldn't really tell who was running for what. I'll be glad when all those signs are removed/replaced with something else!

02-07-2005	#3 (permalink)
tommy Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Tx Posts: 12,004	So I guess Alex _______? didnt win...His signs were every five feet!

02-07-2005	#4 (permalink)
ryberg playa maya guy Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: wandering between the Village Vanguard, NYC, 1961 and the Plugged Nickel, Chicago, 1965 Posts: 9,556	That was the same Chacho named in my post, yes. Many signs claimed that he would be "coming to the rescue" of the state. HA! Don't think there was any Alex. You may be thinking of Felix, as in Félix González, who is the new governor. Steve

02-07-2005	#5 (permalink)
tommy Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Tx Posts: 12,004	Yes your right...Felix it was....So the signs paid off eh?

02-07-2005	#10 (permalink)
Sol Chupacabras Whisperer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Gem State Posts: 9,222	Steve, Thanks for posting the results of the election. Alicia

02-08-2005	#11 (permalink)
PA&PlayaChica Posts: n/a	Thanks for the results! I have been looking on the internet for the results...they are sort of difficult to find. I met a guy down in Playa whose father was involved in politics so from time to time I check out whats going on down there. Steve and Susita, Can you vote or are you not citizens?

02-09-2005	#12 (permalink)
ryberg playa maya guy Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: wandering between the Village Vanguard, NYC, 1961 and the Plugged Nickel, Chicago, 1965 Posts: 9,556	I'm not a citizen, so no voting for me. One point to update my original post: apparently there is a change of sorts from the election in that the ruling PRI party lost their absolute majority in the state legislature. They still have a plurality -- 7 seats -- but with 4 seats now in the hands of each of the other 2 main parties, the PRI cannot just proceed with whatever it wants to do. One editorial I've seen blamed this situation on the outgoing PRI governor, Joaquin Hendricks Díaz. Steve

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