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Pesquera Does Not Rule Out Returning To Politics

Santini: Candidacy Now Is 'Imprudent'


Pesquera Does Not Rule Out Returning To Politics

August 1, 2001
Copyright © 2001 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. All Rights Reserved.

SAN JUAN (AP) - Former New Progressive Party (NPP) President and defeated gubernatorial candidate Carlos Pesquera does not rule out a return to politics if he can contribute something positive to Puerto Rico.

Pesquera denied in published reports that he is raising funds for a future political campaign or that he planned the warm reception he received from statehooders during the commemoration of the birthday of Jose Celso Barbosa last week.

Pesquera said he does not want to toy with a possible candidacy and said "I am not a candidate for anything." Still, he did not rule it out "if at some time I may contribute something to Puerto Rico again, just as long as I feel that I could do so in a positive way. And about me being a great option, I don't rule out anything in the future."

As for the welcome in the Barbosa activities, he said he was particularly surprised by a plane with a sign that read "Barbosa Lives, Pesquera 2004."


Santini: Fighting For Candidacy Now Is `Imprudent'

August 1, 2001
Copyright © 2001 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. All Rights Reserved.

SAN JUAN (AP) - Without closing the doors on his own aspirations for a future gubernatorial race, San Juan Mayor Jorge Santini said it was "imprudent" to talk about gubernatorial candidacies now.

"I think it is totally imprudent to talk about candidates now, regardless of who is talking," Santini said in a press conference called to talk about the development in Rio Piedras.

However, the mayor left the door open for his own bid for the governor when he said "when the moment comes to talk about candidates, then we'll talk."

The mayor was reacting to former New Progressive Party (NPP) President and defeated gubernatorial candidate Carlos Pesquera's statements that he has not ruled out the possibility of running again for governor, even though he resigned the NPP presidency after his defeat.

"Democratically speaking, he has the right to do it (campaign for governor), and if it is a real and clear thing... he must coordinate with the NPP president. But I will not be involved in messes, gossip, nor candidacies," said Santini, whom many have mentioned as a possible gubernatorial candidate in 2004.

According to Santini, talking now about candidacies diverts the attention from the supervision work that the NPP should be doing over the work of Gov. Sila Calderon's administration.

Pesquera said in published reports that he does not want to toy with a possible candidacy, though he is not ruling out a return to politics.

The defeated candidate said he did not rule it out "if at some time I may contribute something to Puerto Rico again, just as long as I feel that I could do so in a positive way. And about me being a great option, I don't rule out anything in the future."

Pesquera, however, denied that he is raising funds for a future political campaign or that he planned the warm reception he received from statehooders during the commemoration of the birthday of Jose Celso Barbosa last week.

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