It’s the day after the results of the UDP City Council convention and the aftershocks are still resonating. But not in cabinet where our sources tell us discussions were civil between those who supported Michael, and Moya’s campaign manager Michael Finnegan. But while Cabinet is cool, the council slate is not, and the question is where will the still divided council go from here? The problem is that four councillors who opposed Mayor Moya were elected; they are Laura Esquivel, Leila Peyrefitte, Dean Samuels and Phillip Willoughby. Many in the party feel that Esquivel and possibly Peyrefitte will not run on a slate led by Zenaida Moya, which, we gather would be just fine with the Mayor. But they were duly elected by a party convention, so will they decline the nomination. When we spoke to Laura Esquivel today, she sounded like a definite maybe.
Laura Esquivel, City Councilor
“I realize that I have a responsibility to the people who voted for me, the people who came out and stood in those lines and said that yes they wanted the Mayor but they also wanted me. I have to take that into consideration. I have to take into consideration the responsibility I have to them and to the party and so I will be meeting with the Prime Minister shortly and then I am sure that all the people who are the prospective candidates as well as the current councillors who are on the next slate will have to meet with the Central Executive to find a way forward so that we can get this thing moving.”
Jules Vasquez,
But you stated before the convention that it is your opinion and it was Deputy Mayor Michael’s opinion that what was overpaid has to be refunded. Do you still maintain that position?
Laura Esquivel,
“I maintain that position. I believe that an error was made somehow and I believe the error needs to be corrected.”
Jules Vasquez,
Your team lost, isn’t it time to just give up the ghost and just say that obviously it is not a huge issue for the electorate- you won?
Laura Esquivel,
“I wouldn’t say so. I think that at the end of the day what people are looking for overall with the UDP is what we promised in the general elections, which was openness, transparency, and accountability.”
And what will the Prime Minister’s position be on the mayor’s irregular salary and the upcoming audit? Well, seems to us that there are two considerations. First, political wisdom suggests that the overwhelming turnout at the convention was a referendum on that issue and it should be put to rest. But the other interpretation may be that it’s the UDP and “right is right”, so a refund must be made. Alternately, both sides may be able to settle on establishing at least the fact that the Mayor’s approved salary is $72,000 a year and anything above that is arguable.
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As regards Esquivel’s decision to stay or go, she has likely been advised by the number 11 finisher Giovanni Heredia that he would be more than happy to step into her shoes. Heredia who promoted himself aggressively, if not artfully, missed the cut by about 50 votes. Oddly – and this is an aside – none of the councillors on the Moya slate were elected. But Heredia through his cousin and campaign manager Mauricio is a Moya loyalist and there is definitely a push from that end to get him unto the slate– if a space becomes vacant.
