Actor Richard Gomez wins Ormoc City mayoral race

SHOW BIZ couple Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres Gomez and husband, actor Richard Gomez (who wins Ormoc City mayoral race). CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

ORMOC CITY, Leyte—The fourth time is apparently a charm for actor Richard Gomez, who finally won as mayor of this city in Leyte.

READ: Actor Gomez to run for Ormoc mayor

He was proclaimed winner by the Board of Canvassers around 4 a.m. on Tuesday after he got 53,234 votes against incumbent Mayor Edward Codilla, who received 44,453 votes.

His wife Lucy Torres-Gomez received a fresh mandate as 4th district representative in Leyte.

It was the fourth electoral race for Gomez, 50, who is a multi-awarded actor, model and athlete.

He first tried his luck in politics as first nominee of the party-list Mamayan Ayaw Sa Droga (MAD) in 2001. However, the Supreme Court disqualified the party-list.

He gave it another shot and ran as senator in 2007 and lost.

In 2010, he ran for 4th district congressman of Leyte but was disqualified for lack of residency. He was replaced by his wife, who  won.

Gomez ran for mayor in 2013 but lost to Codilla by 3,000 votes.

In this elections, Gomez ran under the National People’s Coalition (NPC) and was endorsed by presidential frontrunner Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Meanwhile, his wife ran under the Liberal Party. RAM/rga

READ: Richard Gomez plans to run for mayor of Ormoc—wife