Will Campaign Mudslinging Divide the Party?
Gaspar Vega
With the decided underdog declared victorious, it remains to be seen if time will heal the rift between camps. Much of the campaign was heated some of it very pointed and personal. Saldivar commanded the support of a majority of the so-called powerbrokers within the Party, including Gaspar Vega, Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez, Erwin Contreras, Rene Montero and Pablo Marin. The women newcomers in the Party – Tracy Panton, Carla Barnett and Beverly Castillo also threw their support behind the big deal. So with all that said, how do Faber and Saldivar move ahead since both will have to sit across from each other at the Cabinet table for the next four years, at least?
Gaspar Vega, Supporting John Saldivar
“They actually sit beside each other. No I don’t think so. Both of them are mature and they understand that only one can win. At the end of the day like I say, and I always say, I would prefer to just be a representative on the winning side than a leader on the Opposition side.”
Manuel Heredia
Manuel Heredia, Supporting Patrick Faber
“I believe yes that shouldn’t happen. We belong to one party and we supposed to share most of the same ideals that our Party Leader shares. The platform on which we were elected, and I believe that at this Convention it was a matter of just lobbying the delegates and not really criticizing or pressuring people to do what the representative wants.”
Elodio Aragon Jr.
Elodio Aragon Jr., Supporting Patrick Faber
“I think at the end of the day we are all U.D.P.s. At the end of the day this is the democratic process. This is what is within our Constitution and at the end of the day we will move on together because we are one united Democratic party and we have been elected to govern so that is what we are going to do. I don’t see any problem after this.”
Edmond Castro
Edmond Castro, Supporting John Saldivar
“I noh see much problem. I think John is a person that will unify the Party. If you notice in the Cabinet Room there are more of the Cabinet Ministers already supporting the honorable John Saldivar, so for him to unite the other four or so is not going to be too much of a difficult task.”
Patrick Faber
Patrick Faber, Candidate, First Deputy Leader
“That I think was unfortunate indeed. The mudslinging I believe came mostly from John’s camp and I have tried to ignore it as much as possible although I will say that in fact in some corners my supporters not officially coming from my camp did respond to some of these things, but we tried to deal with those kinds of things as soon as they happened. I did not go negative. In fact Minister Saldivar and I throughout this campaign have kept it very cordial. If there is something that went on overboard we would call each other and try to work on it. I think in the end his camp became a bit desperate and started pulling some moves that I think were below the belt and really I just tried to keep the high ground and left it alone because I know we were so close to the finish.”
John Saldivar
John Saldivar, Candidate for First Deputy Leader
“First of all, we have to recognize that the heat didn’t come from me, and second of all I do believe that after this contest is over it’s going to be easy for myself and Patrick who from the beginning have been friends and continue to be friends to unite the party once again. The task is always difficult to bring the followers along but the leaders are certainly committed, I am certainly committed and I am sure that Patrick Faber is committed to uniting the party after this Convention.”
