Mayor damned for performing or not performing

Panama’s mayor, Roxana Mendez, hit back on Friday , February 1, at critics who claim she is over using her role to boost her political image to ensure re-election in 2014.

Her message was that she is damned if she acts and damned if she doesn’t.

"My job is to do the job of the Mayor and that [the questioning] is something that faces everyone who is occupying a public position," she said on TVN Noticias, Friday, February 1.

"If I do not do the things the Mayor should be doing who is going to do it ?” she said.
"On one hand I am pressured to do more and on on the other hand questioned when I do. But it doesn’t matter … you do what you have to do,"
Méndez, a member of Democratic Change (CD), announced that she will run in the party primaries seeking re-election. Deputies Sergio Galvez and José Muñoz have also thrown their hats into the ring along with the city’s garbage collection authority, Henry Ho.

Numerous others have declared their intentions to run for the post including former presidential candidate Balbina Hererra (PRD), Jose Blandon, Panamenista deputy and former front man for ousted mayor Bosco Vallarino , and former TV host Ana Perez who promises a renewed focus on culture.