Son, father proclaimed Lucena City mayor, vice mayor

LUCENA CITY – Lucena City Mayor-elect Mark Alcala and his father, Vice Mayor-elect Roderick Alcala were officially proclaimed on Tuesday afternoon, May 10.

Arnel Avila, city public information officer, citing the 100 percent transmitted election returns from the Commission on Elections (Comelec), said Mark garnered 104,216 votes edging his nearest rival, former board member Romano Talaga’s (PRP) 31,659.

Roderick, who will return to his former post after serving as the city’s chief executive since 2012, received 113,654 votes against his main contender, former councilor Nilo Villapando (PRP), who got 37,474.

The winning tandem, both PDP-Laban bets, is recorded as the first son-and-father team in the election history of the city, the provincial capital of Quezon province.

In past interviews, Mark refuted the criticism by his political detractors that as a newcomer, he lacks the political experience of running the affairs of the city government.

“From all contenders (for city mayor), I think I have the longest preparation. I’ve gained the knowledge from the long years of my father as a public servant since I was small,” Mark, 28, who served as executive assistant to his father, stressed.

Mark also served as the “Youth Ambassador” for the Lucena city government under the Local Youth Development Council.

Proud father Roderick said his son has his own “dynamic vision” for the progress and development of the city.

The city board of canvassers also proclaimed the 10 winning councilors, three of them neophytes.

One of the newcomers, Ayan Alcala, Mark’s cousin, topped the list of victorious councilors that consolidates Alcala’s fort in future political battles in the city.

/MUF