City Council deadlocked over selection of mayor

In other political news, there’s deadlock at City Hall and the result is a Council without a clear leader. Former Mayor Jose Coye had to give up the post when he was elected to the House of Representatives and subsequently named as a minister of government.

At a meeting convened last night to elect a new mayor, the secret ballots of the eight resident councilors were evenly divided between Deputy Mayor Marshall Nuñez and Councilor Merilyn Young. Since the meeting did not resolve the mayoral race, News Five has learned that a request has been made to the Minister of Local Government Florencio Marin, through the office of the Acting City Manager Sharlene Rudon, to intervene. The Town’s Act gives Minister Marin two choices. He can cast a vote himself to break the deadlock or he can nominate an interim mayor to run the affairs of the old capital until City Council Elections are held in March of next year. Minister Marin could not be reached for comment on the situation at City Hall as he is currently out of the country and is not due back until Friday.