Isabela Mayor Miguel "Ricky" Méndez Pérez announced on Friday that he is backing Loíza Mayor Julia Nazario Fuentes and Coamo Mayor Juan Carlos "Tato" García Padilla for the Partido Popular Democrático (PPD) Governing Board. Méndez, who does not aspire to a position on the board, cited Nazario and García Padilla’s experience as mayors and their knowledge of municipal issues.
He emphasized that both are respected figures within and outside the party and have managed municipalities with significant challenges. The mayoral election on Sunday in Ponce is crucial for the PPD, Méndez said, following several elections where the party has declined. He noted that Pablo José Hernández Rivera’s leadership has generated enthusiasm among the base and that the party should capitalize on this momentum to present itself as a viable option for 2028.
Méndez stressed that mayors should have representation on the Governing Board because they directly address community problems. He confirmed that he will not only vote for Nazario and García Padilla but has also been seeking support for them among his delegates ahead of the Sunday assembly.