Outgoing mayors tap wives, kids for posts

CAUAYAN CITY—Eleven mayors in Isabela are ending their terms next year, but most of them have tapped their wives and children to run for the posts they will be leaving after the 2013 elections.

Mayors Christopher Mamauag (Cabagan), Fernando Cumigad (Gamu), Florante Raspado (Jones), Antonio Miro Jr. (San Pablo), Venturito Bulan (Divilacan), Edgar Go (San Mariano), Manuel Tio (Luna), Edgar Guyud (San Guillermo), Abraham Lim (San Isidro), Renato Candido (Dinapigue) and Amelita Navarro (Santiago City) are serving their third and final terms and will step down next year.

Their families’ hold on power, however, would remain if their relatives win in the 2013 elections.

Mamauag is reportedly fielding his wife, former Mayor Mila Albano-Mamauag, for the post. Albano-Mamauag is a daughter of Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano Jr. and sister of Vice Gov. Rodolfo Albano III.

Raspado is also grooming his wife, Evelyn, to run for mayor, while Board Member Mitzi Cumigad will run for mayor in Gamu as her father steps down from office.

Tio is pushing the mayoral bid of his son, Adrian, and Lim is fielding his wife, Josie. Candido and Miro have yet to decide who among their wives or sons will run in the mayoral races in their towns.

Mayor Amelita Sison-Navarro is tapping her son, Dr. Maximin Navarro, to run against Vice Mayor Alvin Abaya and former Vice Mayor Armando Tan in the mayoral race in Santiago, an independent component city of Isabela.

Three outgoing mayors have endorsed the bids of their vice mayors in the mayoral races. Bulan is supporting Vice Mayor Heraclo Limboy, Go is endorsing Vice Mayor Dean Anthony Domalanta and Guyud is backing Vice Mayor Marilou Sanchez. Villamor Visaya Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon