Friday, February 23, 2007 Businesswoman takes on Toledo mayor in polls
BUSINESSWOMAN Karen Lei Tabelin filed yesterday morning her certificate of candidacy for mayor in Toledo City. She will be running against incumbent Mayor Arlene Zambo.
Tabelin, 33, is running as independent. She does not have a running mate or a slate, but her 34-year-old brother Warren is vying for a council seat.
Although independent, the two are supporting the reelection of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr. Aloguinsan Mayor Cynthia Moreno has changed her mind about running as third district representative to the Cebu Provincial Board (PB).
Change of plan
She would have run under the slate of congressional aspirant Pablo John Garcia, who will be challenging the years-long reign of the Yapha family in the district.
Rep. Antonio Yapha is on his last term and will field his wife, PB Member Estrella Yapha to replace him.
Moreno, in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu, said she feels it best to seek a third term instead of aiming for a higher position.
“I realized that I must finish first what I have started in Aloguinsan and attend to the projects that I initiated,” she said.
Moreno would have given way to her husband, former mayor Caesar Augustus “Chuncy” Moreno, for the mayoral race.
With her recent change of plans, she said she does not know yet what position Chuncy will be running, or who will replace her in the PB race.
After saying earlier that he will not seek an elective post, former Madridejos mayor Doroteo “Dodo” Salazar is now 50 percent sure he will be the running mate of of Salvador dela Fuente, a businessman will try to unseat Mayor Lety Mancio.
Situation
Salazar said the remaining 50 percent depends on the “situation.”
According to Salazar, if dela Fuente’s triumph will be “200 percent assured,” then there is no need for him to run as vice mayor.
For now, Salazar said he is only 100 percent sure that dela Fuente will win against Mancio and that the businessman is even wooing him to be his vice mayor.
Dela Fuente, a businessman, is a newcomer in the town’s political scene but has reportedly gained the support of some town councilors and barangay captains.
If Salazar decides to run this May 14, he will be facing Eddie Villacarlos, Mancio’s brother.
Both Mancio’s and dela Fuente’s camps will be supporting Governor Garcia and Vice Governor Sanchez.
Another PB aspirant under the lineup of Pablo John, the governor’s younger brother, is Toledo City Councilor Cesar Ian Zambo.
Pablo John’s slate is under the newly formed One Cebu Party, which is making an election issue the proposed bills for Cebu del Sur, Cebu del Norte and Cebu Occidental.
Yapha is author of Cebu Occidental, which aims to group all local government units in the third district as one province, with Toledo City as capital city.
Meanwhile, PB Member Gabriel Luis Quisumbing’s colleague in the sixth district wished him good luck for his appointment as district chairman of Lakas.
“I am more comfortable with his friendship than his party,” PB Member Victor Maambong, a former member of Lakas said.
Maambong recalled that the Lakas party in the last elections seemed to be playing with the local candidates.
Maambong and Quisum-bing were at opposing camps but suddenly, they ended up both the same party. (JPM/KNT/MBG)
