Tuesday, January 23, 2007 No running mates yet for 3 candidates
THE three persons who have announced their intention to run for Mandaue City mayor have one thing in common: they still don’t have definite running mates.
Lawyer Magno Dionson admitted yesterday that he has yet to find someone who will run for the position under his party.
Dionson said yesterday that he had talks with former mayoral candidate Ariston “Baludong” Cortes III and raised the possibility of him becoming his running mate before the latter left for the United States.
However, they did not reach a final decision.
Dionson said he expects to meet with him again when he comes back.
He added that it was also possible that he won’t have a running mate.
“But one thing is for sure. I will run for mayor,” said Dionson, who served Mandaue as councilor when it was still a municipality and when it became a city.
Dionson earlier considered former councilor Diosdado Suico as his candidate for vice mayor but Suico has begged off from running in this year’s polls.
Suico said that he would rather spend time with his family than return to politics.
Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano and Vice Mayor Amadeo Seno Jr. also don’t have candidates for vice mayor yet.
Both camps are still negotiating with Councilor Jonas Cortes.
Cortes, in an earlier interview, would not issue a comment yet since he has to discuss the matter with his family.
Ouano, son of Mayor Thadeo “Teddy” Ouano, launched his bid for mayor as early as last year.
Seno, for his part, announced his candidacy last Friday.
In separate interviews, they said that they were still choosing between Jonas and Councilor Glenn Bercede.
There are talks, however, that Jonas and Bercede will be running for mayor and vice mayor, respectively.
Yesterday, Seno said he is still negotiating with Cortes to be his vice mayoral bet.
This will be Seno’s third attempt at becoming the city’s chief executive and a first for Jonkie. (AAG)
