Shortly after the popular candidate for mayor of Guánica, Ismael “Titi” Rodríguez Ramos, will be proclaimed the winner, the candidate by direct nomination Edgardo Cruz Velez he urged State Electoral Commission (EEC) to make an official statement on the contest, which has been left behind a veil of mystery since the beginning of the week.
“This has not been resolved with the urgency, speed and relevance that this unique event in Puerto Rico’s political history deserves. On the 44th day after the elections on 3 November, our respectful request is that the remaining votes to be cast be finally cast and today the person who obtained the most votes be finally announced. in this election contest, ”said Cruz Vélez, noting that the volunteers who serve as observers to the count and who, like him, are traveling from Guánica to the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in the capital since last Friday.
Cruz Vélez pointed out that the Aguadilla municipal count was completed in one day, despite the fact that it had practically three times more votes than Guánica.
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This morning, Rodríguez Ramos claimed to have won the victory with 2,378 votes, against 2,274 for Cruz Vélez. However, in the official EEC portal, where the people who received votes by direct nomination are not detailed, the results have not been updated since last Monday.
‘Even the granting of the 62 versions of the name approved by the President of the EEC, Francisco Rosado Colomer, even giving him votes where names were written, but without marking X in the right place, he did not get the majority. These are the final and firm figures “, said Rodríguez Ramos.
“As alternate President of the EEC (Jessica Padilla) today, there are still votes to be cast here, votes in the direct nomination, so there are about 200, maybe a little more, of votes to be cast today and we also hope that today EEC , officially and officially, announces who was the person who won this contest. We have full confidence that they are us, “Cruz Vélez said in an interview. Metro from the lands of the coliseum.
Last Monday, Rosado Colomer issued a resolution certifying 64 ways of Cruz Vélez’s name that the tables had to grant in his favor. The next day, Rodríguez Ramos, through his lawyer and former electoral commissioner of Popular People’s Party (PPD), Lind Merle Feliciano, brought an appeal on a point of law, alleging that the decision of the President of the EEC exceeded its powers under Electoral code in force, which stipulates that the votes are awarded only by direct nomination when the voter writes “full name”.
According to Cruz Vélez, both PPD and The New Progressive Party (PNP), Holder Cuyo Santos „Papichy” Seda, called for re-election, raised frivolous arguments to prevent the validation of ballots with direct nominations.
“The judge presiding over the EEC certainly has jurisdiction and it is among his prerogatives to decide legally and judicially what he considers to be judged and what not. Former PPD judge and former election commissioner Lind Orlando Merle Feliciano can raise any question, as he has the right to do so. But it really is a question that we understand to be frivolous and that it was raised with the sole intention and purpose of casting the intention to vote for over 2,500 Guaniqueño brothers, “said Cruz Vélez.
The complainant acknowledged that he was concerned about the effect that the controversy, which could be extended in court, would have on the transition process if it prevailed. Rodríguez Ramos was declared the preliminary winner, despite the fact that the direct nomination category received more votes than all certified candidates.
The former military man previously tried to run for mayor of Guánica by the PNP and The Dignity Project, a community that refused to prevent his candidacy because of the sexual orientation of Cruz Vélez, who openly declared his homosexuality.