NEGROS Occidental Second District Board Member Salvador Escalante Jr., secretary-general of United Negros Alliance (Unega), said on Thursday, October 4, that politicians who do not have an opponent during the election face a bigger challenge in proving himself and live up to the expectations of everyone in the community.

Escalante made the statement amid the impressions that the election in Negros Occidental in 2019 will be boring due to the merger of Unega and Love Negros.

Political pundits claimed the merger is a “selection instead of election.”

Escalante admitted that the impression is true but the politicians who have no opponents have to give their best after the election process.

He said Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., one of the political leaders in the province, would like to do everything to make sure of a peaceful election in the province in 2019 that's why they are working out for an arrangement on areas that are considered hotly contested during the election.

So far, areas that remain unsettled as there is still a looming political rivalry are in Himamaylan City and the Fifth District; Toboso, as incumbent Mayor Richard Jaojoco will be challenged by his vice mayor, Evelita Fuentes; Calatrava, challenge looms between Vice Mayor Marilyn Era and former mayor Alfonso Baguio; La Castellana, it would be between incumbent Mayor Rhumyla Mangilimutan and former vice mayor Chad Feria; in Binalbagan, the battle will be between Congressman Alejandro Mirasol and Emmanuel Aranda; Hinigaran between incumbent Mayor Jose Nadie Arceo and his Vice Mayor, Teresita Gabridol; Isabela between incumbent Mayor Joselito Malabor and Irene Montilla, the wife of the late Isabela mayor Enrique Montilla.