Madrid wins Naco, Sonora mayoral vote

NACO, Sonora — The National Action Party (PAN) will remain in power in this border town in Mexico, based on the results of the recent mayoral election.

Manuel Madrid will serve a three-year term as mayor of Naco starting in mid-September.

Madrid, the former town treasurer, received 1,274 votes, narrowly beating his rival Oscar Ozuna, a school teacher, of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), who had 1,272 votes, according to the municipality’s electoral counsel.

The election took place Sunday. Initially, the two candidates were tied with 1,274 votes each. A recount was conducted, and officials announced late Monday night that Madrid had won by two votes.

Supporters of the PAN party, including more than 200 people on foot and more than 100 cars, took part in a victory march Monday night in Naco, according to Mirador newspaper.

The remaining votes went to candidates for three other parties, with the Convergence Party (PC) getting 91 votes, the Labor Party (PT) receiving 74 votes, and the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) ending up with 30 votes, according to the electoral counsel.

Lorenzo “Chovy” Villegas, of the PAN, was elected as Naco’s mayor in 2000. Mexican law does not allow mayors to serve consecutive terms. He was replaced in 2003 by Vicente Torres, of the PRI. But, Villegas was elected again in 2006 as mayor.