BajaNews - 11-30-2006 at 04:04 PM
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/tijuana/20061128-9...
State of city address could give clues to future race
By Anna Cearley
November 28, 2006
TIJUANA – Mayor Jorge Hank Rhon's second state of the city address last night provided a glimpse at what may become key campaign points if he runs for
governor of Baja California.
Hank relied on a video that highlighted his administration's accomplishments, with images of heavily armed police officers, road projects and social
service programs, such as additional child care facilities.
“Together we can all move Tijuana ahead,” he said, after saying the video was just a small summary of what his administration has done.
Hank aspires to run for governor during next year's elections, but his Institutional Revolutionary Party hasn't named a candidate yet. Political
parties typically name candidates during the first few months of the election year.
The mayor said his administration had been busy hiring more police officers, increasing the force to 2,312. He talked about a citywide camera security
system, consisting of 320 cameras, which he credited for helping identify thousands of crimes.
He said his administration built 955,500 square meters of new roads and invested in new trash collection trucks to extend services throughout the
city.
Before Hank spoke, Councilman Raúl Castañeda Pomposo, with the rival National Action Party, painted a different picture of the city – one closed to
dissident voices. His remarks prompted boos from the mostly pro-mayor crowd.
Although Hank talks of more openness in his government – using as an example a Web page that shows budget figures – Castañeda said the administration
had “closed the door to the dialogue and profound analysis of questions.”
Castañeda criticized the camera system for not being effective, because “the criminal acts are the order of the day.”
In recent months, the city has had a series of slayings and kidnappings, and organized crime hasn't ceased.
Hank's election two years ago ended 15 years of mayoral administrations under the National Action Party, or PAN. He promised to improve city services
and stand up to crime. The irony to many outsiders was that Hank himself had been rumored to be involved in illegal activities in the past, even
though the allegations were never proven.
Political observers at the time said residents didn't seem to be bothered by the rumors, and instead saw him as someone less inclined to benefit
financially from public office. He was already a wealthy businessman, who has taken a leave of absence from running full time the Caliente race track
and his company's other sports betting enterprises in Mexico.