The New Progressive Party (PNP) closed its candidacy filing period on a Friday at noon for a special election to replace the late mayor of Cataño, Julio Alicea Vasallo. Six candidates submitted required documents: Rafael Canino Torres, Félix Matías Rodríguez, Hiram Torres Montalvo, Bethzaida Rodríguez Torres, José Rodríguez Ocaña, and Fernando Cintrón Mercado. PNP electoral commissioner Aníbal Vega Borges said he was satisfied with the turnout, noting that of nine people who initially requested filing information, six ultimately filed—within the four-to-six range typical for Cataño’s electorate.
The evaluating committee will have until September 8 to confirm which candidates meet legal requirements and to review any formal complaints, though Vega Borges said none had been filed yet, despite ongoing informal political disputes. Key upcoming dates include the September 9 ballot-position drawing, the September 18 voter registration closing, and September 25 collection of early votes from incarcerated voters.
The special election will be held Sunday, September 27, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, at an estimated cost of about $8,000. Vega Borges projected between 3,000 and 3,500 PNP-affiliated voters would participate, with a clear trend expected by around 4:15 PM that day.