, 2003 for the office of
Caye Caulker Village Council Chairman and one seat on the council. As a result,
candidate Alberto Villanueva Jr. was named chairman and Miguel Neal as councilor
of the village council. Voter turnout showed an
impressive 498 residents casting ballots and a landslide victory for the winners
as Villanueva received 354 votes compared to his opponent, Maria Vega's 140
total. Similarly, Neal received 360 votes as opposed to Wendy Auxillou's tally
of 104. Although defeated, Vega and Auxillou both pledged to work diligently
with the new village chairman and council. Following the voting, one resident
deemed the election, "A turning point for democracy."
In
his victory speech, Alberto Villanueva Jr. pledged to " work hard for the people
of Caye Caulker" and further promised to "straighten out" the island's financial
challenges.
In accordance with Section 9
(1) of the Village
Councils Act, Chapter 88, Revised edition 2000 of the Laws of Belize,
bi-elections were called following the resignation of former Chairman Fermin
Marin. The available seat on CC Village Council was vacated by Villanueva to
enable him to run for chairman. As newly elected chairman, Villanueva will serve
out his predecessor's remaining fifteen-month term.
Alberto Villanueva Jr. received a Master's Degree in Business Administration
with a concentration in International Management from the Valdosta State
University in Valdosta, Georgia, USA. He is currently the municipal
administrator for San Pedro Town.
