Shortly after the popular candidate for mayor of Guánica, Ismael “Titi” Rodríguez Ramos, Was proclaimed winner, the candidate by direct nomination Edgardo Creu Vélez urged the State Election Commission (EEC) to make an official statement on the fight, which has remained after a veil of mystery since the beginning of the week.
“This has not been handled with the haste, speed and relevance that this unique event in Puerto Rico’s political history deserves. On the 44th day after the November 3 elections, our order, in a respectful manner , is that the votes that are missing to be awarded are finally awarded and today it is finally announced who was the person who obtained the most votes in this electoral contest “, said Creu Vélez, emphasizing that the volunteers who act as observers of the count and who, like him, have been traveling from Guánica to the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in the capital since last Friday.
Creu Vélez pointed out that the municipal count of Aguadilla was completed in a single day, although it had almost three times as many ballots as Guánica.
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This morning, Rodríguez Ramos claimed victory with 2,378 votes, against 2,274 from Cruz Vélez. However, on the official portal of the EEC, which does not detail the people who received votes by direct nomination, the results have not been updated since last Monday.
“Even awarding the 62 versions of the name approved by the President of the EEC, Francisco Rosado Colomer, Despite awarding votes where names were written, but without marking the X in the appropriate place, he did not get the majority. These are the final and firm numbers, “said Rodriguez Ramos.
“As expressed alternately by the alternate president of the EEC (Jessica Padilla) Today, there are still no votes left to award, votes under the direct nomination candidacy, so there are about 200, maybe a little more, of votes that are going to be awarded today and also we hope that today the EEC, formally and officially, will announce who was the person who prevailed in this fight. We have full confidence that these have been us “, Riposto Creu Vélez in an interview with Subway from the estates of the coliseum.
Last Monday, Rosat Colomer issued a resolution certifying 64 modalities of the name of Creu Vélez that the tables had to award in his favor. The next day Rodríguez Ramos, through his lawyer and former electoral commissioner of the Democratic People’s Party (PPD), Lind Merle Feliciano, Filed an appeal for judicial review, arguing that the decision of the President of the EEC exceeded his powers under the Electoral code current, which provides that votes are only awarded by direct nomination when the voter writes the “full name.”
According to Creu Vélez, both the PPD and the New Progressive Party (PNP), Holder of Cuyo Santos “Papichy” Seda, He sought re-election, have raised frivolous arguments to prevent ballots with direct nomination votes from being validated.
“The judge presiding over the EEC definitely has jurisdiction and it is between his prerogative to decide in a legal and judicial way what he thinks is adjudicable and what it is not. Mr. ex-judge and former electoral commissioner of the PPD Lind Orlando Merle Feliciano may raise any question because it is in his right to do so.But it really is a question that we understand is frivolous and that was raised with the sole intention and purpose of throwing out the window the intention of vote of more than 2,500 guaniqueños brothers “, maintained Vélez Cross.
The applicant has admitted that he is concerned about the effect that the dispute, which could well extend to the courts, would have on the transition process if it prevailed. Rodriguez Ramos was declared a preliminary winner, although the direct nomination column garnered more votes than all certified candidates.
The ex – military man previously tried to aspire to the mayorship of Guánica by the PNP and the Dignity project, A community that has refused to prevent his candidacy due to the sexual orientation of Creu Vélez, who has openly declared his homosexuality.