Familiar faces to square off for Olongapo mayor

City Mayor Rolen Paulino Jr. (right)) will seek reelection but will be challenged again by former Zambales vice governor Anne Marie Gordon. The face-off is a repeat of the 2019 elections. (Contributed photos)

OLONGAPO CITY—Incumbent Mayor Rolen Paulino Jr. filed Friday his certificate of candidacy (COC) to seek reelection and will be challenged by another familiar candidate, Anne Marie Gordon.

Anne Marie, the widow of the late mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr., served as the vice governor of Zambales from 2007 to 2010. She also filed Friday her COC.

It was in the 2019 elections when Paulino and Anne Marie first ran against each other for mayor.

Paulino, a lawyer, is the son of former Mayor Rolen Paulino, Sr., who also ran against Anne Marie in the 2013 elections won by the elder Paulino.

The Paulinos and the Gordons are the two dominant political families in the city.

But the mayoral race will be crowded as two other aspirants have also filed their COCs.

Barangay Captain Priscilla “Kap Echie” Ponge of Gordon Heights and talent manager Arnold Vegafria will also run for the mayoral post.