MAYOR Oscar Moreno has announced over the weekend his decision to seek reelection in next year’s elections under the administration Liberal Party.
“Yes, this is my official announcement. I will seek another term in 2016,” Moreno told radio station DxCC.
He said he would run for a second office term because there were still many things he wanted to accomplish in the city.
Moreno’s pronouncements put an end to talk that he would run again for Misamis Oriental governor, a position he held before he was elected Cagayan de Oro mayor in 2013.
Moreno also said he has been asked to seek the governorship again but “malisod man usab nga akong biya-an ang katawhan dinhi sa syudad.”
If reelected, Moreno said he would work to build a new market in Puerto, open up new growth centers, acquire more land to relocate informal settlers, and construct a new sports complex in the city.
“It’s a matter of time na lang kay kini nga mga plano, nagkinahanglan sa dako nga cooperation sa city council,” Moreno said.
He did not say who his running mate would be but hinted that the LP has started the process of identifying potential candidates for city council seats under his 2016 ticket.
He said there was a list of names of possible candidates for the city council.
Various city hall sources said those being considered include Councilors Lourdes Darimbang, Zaldy Ocon, Enrico Salcedo and Teodulfo Lao; Former vice mayor Antonio Soriano, Rep. Rolando Uy’s wife Lorna or one of their children, former councilors Edgar Cabanlas and Aaron Neri;Lapasan barangay chairman Omar Labuntog, former Bugo barangay chairman Perseverando Araña, and Tablon barangay chairman Romeo Bacarro.
The list is incomplete, and nothing has been finalized yet. A highly placed city hall source said there were many other potential candidates being considered by Moreno and his group.
The LP would field Rep. Uy as its candidate for congressman in the 1st District.
With Rep. Rufus Rodriguez serving his third and final office term as representative of the 2nd District, the LP has yet to decide on the congressman’s successor.
The LP however has not discounted the Rodriguezes who played a major role in influencing the outcome of the 2013 elections in the city. -nitz arancon
