Tuesday, January 30, 2007 Renato’s son tops choices of Tomas for council slots
A BO-PK leader, a Sinulog organizer and a scion of the Osmeña clan, and the son of a former vice mayor are just among the administration party’s choices to complete the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) lineup.
But more than popularity, performance, talent and commitment to public service will be Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s ultimate gauge when selecting the candidates for his party.
Osmeña’s nephew and former vice mayor Renato Osmeña’s son, Richie, already expressed to the mayor his interest to run for city councilor in the south district.
BO-PK leader Art Barrit, Sinulog Foundation Inc. Executive Director Ricky Ballesteros and City Social Welfare Officer Kathy Yso are also possible contenders for at least three vacant slots in the lineup for councilors.
Like other possible candidates, Osmeña said everyone should be able to demonstrate that they can perform not only legislative functions but executive work as well.
“Richie is very much interested so I said you have to go around, talk to the people and the officials in the barangays and let’s see what their reaction would be…. Mauwaw ta sa mga tawo if just because you are who you are, you expect people to vote for you,” he told a news conference yesterday.
Osmeña said he prefers performance over popularity because it will be easier to make the hard-working candidates popular than making those who are already popular perform well in their job.
“Popularity doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll end up talented. If it turns out that the popular ones don’t have the capability of performing, unsa may remedyo ana? Wala gyud. Bisag brain surgery dili mada,” said the mayor.
He further said that ultimately, the decision will be up to the members of the party and not him alone.
Services
Osmeña said he wants someone who will work on their own to deliver services to the constituents and those who move around in the barangays. The mayor sees both qualifications in Art Barrit, his campaign leader in the 2004 elections.
“Art Barrit knows how to move around. He’s one of those being considered. I’m more concerned about what we leave behind when I’m no longer mayor. The ones who are popular but can’t run the city and have no direction?” he asked.
As for the incumbent councilors, the mayor said there is no such thing as “equity of the incumbent.”
If he thinks some of the incumbent councilors are not performing well, he will ask them to leave the party even when there is no replacement yet.
He also denied that BO-PK is planning to replace Councilor Arsenio Pacaña but said that like other councilors, he has to work harder and perform better. (LCR)
