A Third Term for Darrell Bradley? City Mayor Not Ruling Out National Involvement

Darrell Bradley

Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley enjoyed significant majorities in his two elections to the post in 2012 and 2015, continuing a dominant run by the United Democratic Party at City Hall.  But his personal ambitions for national office have not fared as well – he lost to Kareem Musa in general elections in the Caribbean Shores constituency just months after being re-elected as Mayor.  So with the next general elections not expected before 2020, but municipal elections due next March, the Mayor has a decision to make – go for a third term as Mayor, or try to build anticipation for a re-match with Musa? We asked him about his plans in a recent interview and he said he has begun campaigning for a third term but still has not ruled out national involvement.

Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor

“It’s a concern that ought not to be a concern; but in terms of factoring all of those things, it helps if you are in an elected position, because you have the profile and publicity of that position if you are seeking additional office. I think that one of the things that helped me in the Caribbean Shores – even though I didn’t win, we did get a significant amount of support – is because of the record that we were able to bring the City Hall to, so that if you are doing good work, people will try to say, ‘Well, I want to see what you will do in Central Government,’ that is not the case if you’re not Mayor.”

Reporter

“But in terms of specific plans, your specific plans?”

Darrell Bradley

“I am saying that you would want to stay in the office of Mayor while you would campaign for higher office. I think that that doesn’t sit well with everybody, but I am explaining that that is not something that is not strange in many political settings, that is something that is quite common.”

Reporter

“I will put it to you directly – have you made a decision yet in that regard?”

Darrell Bradley

“We are campaigning. We have had very substantial meetings with our team, we have met with several members of the Central Government; we have started to walk the streets in Belize City in terms of doing political work and so forth. Of course, I’ve made no secret of the fact that I want to be elected someday in Central Government, and those kinds of steps have to be looked at as a priority but we are kind of moving in the direction as a team. I think we’ve had some problems and challenges with the City Council, but in terms of bringing everybody together and making sure that everybody’s on the same page, that’s the direction that we’re going.”