Varela shrugs off losses in Caguas mock votes

Varela downplayed two mock votes held at Caguas shopping centers this week that were both won by William “Willito” Miranda Torres, who is seeking to finish the final two years of his father’s fourth term as Caguas mayor. Miranda Marín died in June after a brave battle with pancreatic cancer.

Following Miranda Marín’s death, Miranda Torres quickly emerged as the favorite to finish his father’s term. However, he was beaten for the post by Varela in a PDP Caguas committee election. That vote was contested and the PDP opted for an Aug. 8 primary to settle the issue. A third candidate, Harry Vega, is also running.

“Everything looks good. The people who will be with me in the municipality are in place more or less, but my priority now is to mobilize voters,” Varela said during a campaign swing through the La Mesa sector of Caguas on Saturday.

He noted that Aníbal Acevedo Vilá was trailing in all polls heading into the 2004 gubernatorial vote, which he ended up winning by a razor-thin victory over former Gov. Pedro Rosselló in a vote decided by the federal court.

Miranda Torres won both mock votes by sizable margins last week. Varela placed second in one and third in the other.

Varela described as “scandalous” the number of advisory contracts granted by the Caguas municipal government under Miranda Marín and pledged a rigorous analysis of the deals if elected next month.

The winner of the primary will be Caguas mayor for two years but would have to run for re-election in the November 2012 to keep the post for another term.