Secretary of state endorses lawmaker for mayoral vacancy, may remain as NPP VP

Newly sworn-in Secretary of State Rosachely Rivera Santana, left, said she favors Rep. Vimarie Peña Dávila to fill the Gurabo mayoral seat she left vacant to assume the island’s highest non-elective post.

By THE STAR STAFF

Secretary of State Rosachely Rivera Santana said Thursday that she favors Rep. Vimarie Peña Dávila to fill the Gurabo mayoral seat in a special election to be held on Sunday, Aug. 10.

“This is a special election because, by law, it is a popular election, and the nomination process is open to anyone who wishes to run,” Rivera Santana said upon her arrival at the headquarters of the New Progressive Party (NPP) board of directors. “I have already made my statements that I was favoring the current Representative Vimarie Peña, but that the people will certainly choose.”

“I’m leaving an orderly transition, leaving many projects on track, and what I want is for the person who comes in -- in this case, I favor Vimarie -- to understand that she’s a capable woman,” Rivera Santana added. “We’ve worked together before, and she’ll specifically follow up on the social assistance and reconstruction projects she’s worked on. A deputy mayor, a municipal administrator, who is the interim mayor [Glenda Villafañe], will remain, and she’s following up on everything. She’s worked -- everyone there has worked nine years alongside me, and I’ve worked for 20. I’m ending my term in the municipality with 20 years of service.”

Regarding her duties as secretary of state, Rivera Santana said she began by helping students with their visas.

“One of the things I already discussed was with some students from universities outside of Puerto Rico who have had some problems with their visas, so I’ve been following up on that this morning,” she said. “We’re also going to work with the examining boards that have requested some meetings. I’m going to visit the integrated service centers that are currently experiencing a higher volume of visitors and see what we can do to improve them and expedite requests, which is what they’re looking for, among other additional things.”

Rivera Santana noted that the law has been reviewed and she may remain as vice president.

The NPP board is meeting to establish the special election process.