Governor convenes meeting to fill mayor’s seat in Gurabo

Rep. Vimarie Peña Dávila

By THE STAR STAFF

New Progressive Party (NPP) President Gov. Jenniffer González Colón will convene the party’s board of directors for a meeting on Thursday to discuss the vacancy for the mayor of Gurabo, which was left by Rosachely Rivera Santana, who is now Puerto Rico’s secretary of state.

The governor emphasized that the party must establish a new selection process, despite District 31 Rep. Vimarie Peña Dávila’s belief that she has the support to become mayor.

“I must follow due process, and the New Progressive Party guarantees that. Candidates here aren’t simply handpicked,” González Colón said. “Once I receive an official notification of a vacancy, the law and party regulations require that the board of directors be convened, a candidate evaluation committee approved, and a primary calendar established, as these legal requirements must be fulfilled. If there are no other candidates and she is the sole candidate, there is still a procedure to adhere to, but it must align with the process set by the party, which we will consider at that time. No one can announce candidacies until they are officially opened. In order to begin that process, the NPP must initiate it.”

Rivera Santana’s nomination for secretary of state received unanimous support in the House of Representatives.