On Sunday at the MCC the United Democratic Party will choose a mayoral candidate and ten councilors for the March municipal election. And while most of the attention has been on the battle between mayoral candidates Zenaida Moya and Anthony Michael, the real political derby is among the 34 people who want to fill the 10 slots for councilors on the UDP slate. Thirty-four candidates – that’s an unprecedented amount to contest any convention – and what makes the list even more remarkable is how many unknowns and newcomers are on it. The list of 34 includes 9 incumbent councilors excluding Mark King who was barred from running. But what’s remarkable about the list are the about 20 newcomers, most of them new to the UDP, and certainly brand new to electoral politics. We today spoke to two of the candidates – tour operator Roger Espejo and businessman Thomas Shaw. We’ve never seen their names on the ballot before, so we asked them, why now?
Thomas Shaw, Candidate
“My position in jumping into the City Council is I see some things that can be done in the city and I wanted to see what I could do for my country, the little I can do. I am not going, I am doing something small so it doesn’t hamper my business in the aspect as well.”
Keith Swift,
Why the UDP slate?
Thomas Shaw,
“Uhm that’s a very good question. I do believe that they have the country at heart and I am for my country.
I wouldn’t say I’m close to Mark Espat. I was a constituent in his area and Mark Espat and I played basketball together, that doesn’t make us best friends.”
Keith Swift,
There is a long list of names, what do you think will set you apart from the other candidates?
Thomas Shaw,
“To be honest with you, knowing the fact that I am not the type of person to go against what I say and people know me as being a very genuine and
good person at heart and hopefully that will take me far enough.”
Keith Swift,
Are people surprised that you’re running?
Thomas Shaw,
“Yes I do. To this date I am still getting questions why.”
Keith Swift,
And what’s your response?
Thomas Shaw,
“I am just trying to do something for my country.”
Roger Espejo, Candidate
“I think the UDP is upon a great time right now to make a difference and I want to be a part of that party, I want to help the UDP win the next City Council election and make a difference in Belize City.”
Keith Swift,
You’re on a list of 34 names, what will make you stand out?
Roger Espejo,
“Well the fact that I come from a business back ground, I come from the private sector so we come from a world of efficiency, a world of promptness, a world of planning and that will surely be seen in days to come and in the future what I can show in terms of my planning skills and the managerial ideas that I can bring to the City Council.”
Keith Swift,
Why the UDP?
Roger Espejo,
“Because that’s the greatest that ever was, that’s all I have to say about that. Somebody has to do it, it is a hard work but someone has to do it. It is public service and it is something where I’ve always thought that ask what you could do for your country, not always what your country could do for you.”
Keith Swift,
Why invest so much in a campaign?
Roger Espejo,
“Because I believe I could win, I wouldn’t be running if I didn’t think I could win and because that’s so much I want to support and serve the people.”
We note that among the 34 there are only three women and they are incumbent councillors Laura Esquivel, Leila Peyrefitte, and Hyacinth Latchman-Cuellar.
