If he's said it once - he's said it a thousand times: the mayor of Belize City will not face a contested convention - he'd rather just walk away.
Somewhat surprisingly - the PUP Executive still has not decided whether or not it will have a mayoral convention - and the matter has been left hanging for more than three months.
Reports suggest the party is inclined to not rock the boat and leave two term mayor to ride it out to a possible third term.
While that's one possible scenario - some speculation suggests that the mayor may wish to move on to greater pastures and contest the Albert constituency in a general election for the PUP.
Today, the press asked him about that:
Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City
"In respect to convention or no convention, my position remains. I do believe that we have some unfinished job to do here at the city hall. We have in the pipeline our e-buses, our e-taxis. We continue to really enhance our smart city vision of really driving the type of change in respect to understanding that climate change is here. We're doing a massive infrastructure ambition of over 90 streets. We have been able to complete over 40 plus close to over one third of those streets have been completed, and we continue to drive that type of infrastructural development in the city."
Reporter
"Has the National, Executive of the PUP indicated to you what kind of convention will take place?"
Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City
"No, I have no sort of indication to that. I just have to continue to do my job here. That's the only thing I can do to continue to lead the city. And you can see we're doing massive infrastructure ambition of over 90 streets."
"We've been able to complete over 40 plus close to over one third of those streets have been completed. And we continue to drive that type of infrastructure development in the city."
Reporter
"If it is that the party decides to entertain the other mayoral candidates and they go to an electoral convention, will your position change then and will you consider joining maybe on that bigger stage to run at the national level?"
Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City
"My thing here is to complete the job at city hall. Convention, I have already indicated my position. If they do go to convention then I'll just walk away from it. That is their right."
Reporter
"You're not looking at Albert."
Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City
"The party has its right to decide if they want to go convention or they don't want to go convention. And I respect them for their right. I also have rights as well that these are the terms and conditions of me seeking mayoral leadership against. I'm not here to without smoking gun at any one head. It's essentially giving my terms and my conditions."
Reporter
"So Albert isn't on the horizon for you. If you move past that stage where the municipals are behind you then are you looking at Albert on a national scale?"
Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City
"I can't say that. That's a that's a party decision but politics as they say anything is possible right?"
