And from art…to the art of politics…
Since the beginning of the week, we've been taking a closer look at the candidates who have been nominated as candidates on November 11th.
Right now, all across Belize, 88 nominated politicians continue to campaign to get your vote, and while some of them are brand names in Belizean politics, there are also rookies and new faces.
Tonight, we take a look at 6 of the 8 candidates who are running in the north starting in the PUP cornerstone Corozal South East:
Electors in Corozal Southeast have a choice of candidates from all 4 political parties who want to form the next Central Government.
The man defending his seat in this division is Florencio Marin Jr. He is pursuing his 4th term as Area Rep., in an area that has never gone red, much of that owing his father, Florencio Sr.
Marin is being challenged by UDP's Antonio "Tony" Herrera, a political newcomer and former acolyte to Marin Sr, whose had a setback recently after he tested positive for COVID-19.
The Belize Progressive Party's candidate is Edna Doris Diaz a farmer who is making the transition to electoral politics.
The Belize People's Front's standard-bearer is Eloim Ellis, a resident of Carolina Village in Corozal with a tourism background.
- Nominated Candidates - Corozal South West. In Corozal South West, there are 3 candidates.
Dr. Angel Campos, the UDP first-term area representative, is asking his constituents to return him to office.
The PUP's Ramiro Ramirez, who won the division in 2012, is back to challenge Dr. Campos for a second time.
The final standard-bearer on the ballot for that division is BPF's Laurencio Bul, a farmer from Buena Vista Village in the Corozal District.
Moving on to Orange Walk Central, voters of this division have 3 candidates to chose from.
The incumbent is John Briceno, the leader of the PUP, undefeated in that division since 1993. He's now asking the electorate of Orange Walk Central to elect him for the 7th time as their area rep - and possibly see him unto the Prime Minister's seat.
UDP candidate Denny Grijalva, is back to challenge Briceno for the third time. He was defeated in 2012 and 2015 General Elections.
Antonia Cruz Sanchez, the People's Front's standard Bearer, is the 3rd candidate for this division. She is a resident of San Estevan Village in Orange Walk, and an unknown on the Belizean political scene.
In Orange Walk North, whoever the voters choose out of the 3 candidates, will become a first time parliamentarian.
Carlos Zetina is the UDP candidate for this division, and as a newcomer, he must try to win it in place of the disgraced former area-rep., Gaspar Vega, whose political career took a nose-dive after being dogged by familial land scandals.
His challenger is the PUP's Ramon "Monchi" Cervantes, who lost the 2015 general Elections to Vega. He is back to make a second attempt at elected office.
The third candidate is the People's Front's Marino Assi, a career BDF soldier, and laborer, who is trying his hand at electoral politics.
In Orange Walk East, 3 candidates are asking for voter support in these upcoming elections.
The incumbent is Elodio Aragon Jr., the career police officer who made a successful transition to electoral politics. He is seeking his second term in office.
His strongest challenger is Kevin Bernard, the current serving Mayor of Orange Walk Town, who would be up for re-election next year. Bernard has already won 3 consecutive municipal elections in Orange Walk.
The final candidate for Orange Walk East is the People's Front's Lorenzo Adrian Aldana, a former BDF soldier who went on to pursue higher education. His family is originally from San Jose Nuevo Palmar in Orange Walk.
In Orange Walk South, there are also 3 candidates to choose from. The incumbent is Jose Abelardo Mai, who is seeking his 3rd term as Area Rep..
Mai's strongest challenger is the UDP's Guadalupe Dyck Magana, who he defeated in the 2015 General Elections by only 62 votes.
Their third competitor in this election is Eber Herrador, a 26-year-old resident of Orange Walk village of Santa Cruz. He is another neophyte politician representing the Belize People's Front.
Tomorrow, we intend to look at the candidates who are running in the Cayo divisions.
