Governor says political turmoil overshadowed her accomplishments, confirms Domenech to lead her campaign

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón (Facebook via Jenniffer González Colón)

By THE STAR STAFF

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón said Wednesday that recent public controversies have drowned out her administration’s accomplishments and said that this was the reason she asked Francisco Domenech Fernández to step down as La Fortaleza chief of staff.

In a radio interview, González Colón said the disputes surrounding La Fortaleza were eclipsing the government’s progress.

“The noise, all these public controversies literally diminish and overshadow the work and the management that is being done,” she said. “The people are seeing the work, the work is there … but the noise literally swallows all this effort.”

The governor added that she will now begin assembling her political team ahead of the New Progressive Party (NPP) primaries,  and confirmed that Domenech Fernández will take charge of her campaign once he leaves government. She noted that he has served as her campaign director in past political efforts and will reprise that role as she prepares for the primary season, which she said has effectively begun early.

“It is evident that the primaries started ahead of time, so I have to start putting together my team to address that matter,” González Colón said, adding that Domenech will be part of the group once he transitions out of public service.

The governor also said a successor for Domenech has already been selected. While she did not disclose the name, she said the designation will be announced “at the appropriate moment,” emphasizing that the timing of personnel decisions “has its reason for being.”

A new appointee will also be named to lead the Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority, she confirmed.

González Colón defended the presence of Justice Secretary Lourdes Gómez Torres during Tuesday’s announcement of the departures of Domenech Fernández and Itza García Rodríguez as assistant chief of staff. According to the administration, Domenech will leave his post on Aug. 7, while García Rodríguez will step down on Aug. 15.

The governor insisted that despite the political turbulence, her administration’s work continues and will not be derailed by controversy.