Councilor to keep options ‘open’ for 2013 race

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- City Councilor Jimmy Lazatin said Sunday he is keeping his options “open” on his next move in the 2013 political race.

This came in the heels of talks that his party – the Liberal Party (LP) – allegedly made alliances with the opposition and is junking him for an Edsa-Ato tandem in 2013.

News spread last week that during the birthday celebration of Vice Mayor Edwin Santiago (Edsa), he unofficially “anointed” another city councilor, Renato “Ato” Agustin, as his running mate in 2013.

The Edsa-Ato tandem, according to reliable sources, already has the blessing of LP local president and City of San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez.

Agustin is associated with the opposition even if he ran as an independent in the 2010 elections, according to Lazatin.

Santiago belongs to the administration party LP alongside Lazatin.

Lazatin said last week that he has yet to talk to his LP party mates about the Edsa-Ato tandem.

“There is still a lot of work to be done especially in my committees, education and good governance. Besides, it is too early to talk about politics,” he added.

Early this year, Rodriguez already made pronouncements that the LP has a team to beat in the City of San Fernando in 2013 with the Edsa-Lazatin tandem.

After last week's development, Lazatin is keeping his options open but assured his constituency that he will press on to run in 2013 “with or without a party” and that he will run for a position depending on “where the clamor of the people will take me.”

Lazatin is a considered a Fernandino favorite among the candidates aspiring for a higher post in 2013. Unofficial surveys reveal that in case he runs for higher office, Lazatin will easily win as vice mayor come election time.