Monday, June 11, 2007

Mexican Elections: An Interview with Hugo Torres

By Anonymous*

(MexiData.info note: Hugo Torres Chabert is running for Municipal President, or Mayor, of Rosarito Beach, Baja California, Mexico.  Torres, a well-known Rosarito Beach businessman and owner of the historic Rosarito Beach Hotel, was a driving force behind the successful 1995 efforts to gain Rosarito Beach’s autonomy from the Municipality of Tijuana.  With the official 1995 formation of the new Municipality of Playas de Rosarito, the fifth municipality (county) in the state, Torres became its first Municipal President.  Torres served his term with distinction, and he has long played an important role in the growth, development and popularity of the area.)

Question: Why you for Mayor?

Hugo Torres: I want to bring Rosarito Beach up to par, [and] to bring “boomers” and others who want to visit, vacation or retire, here. It’s time for the municipal government to partner with business and developers in a fair and open manner. We need ethical and honest leadership during this time of economic growth and opportunity.

Q:    What did you learn from your past experience as Mayor of Rosarito Beach, and what can you bring to the table? What kind of leadership can voters expect from you?

HT: I started a program in Rosarito Beach to prevent drug abuse and educate children of the dangers involved. After I left office those programs were discontinued. I want to bring those programs back, and to offer beneficial options for our youth.

We need more parks, and social and cultural centers. We need to stop the selling of parks and public areas by politicians, and to require approval by committees and residents alike before public lands are sold.  I’ll provide a local government that is open, transparent, honest and ethical, and represents the needs of the common people.

Q:    Why the PRI?

HT: Actually this is a coalition of three parties: the PRI [Institutional Revolutionary Party, PBC [Baja California Party], and the Green Party (Mexican Green Environmentalist Party, PVEM).

Q:    Your vision of the future of Rosarito Beach?

HT: We have two options — we can move forward or go backwards. I see it as going in the wrong direction now, and we need that to change. We have an amazing opportunity for positive growth today, with all of the new development and economic growth. We need more jobs for our residents, healthy alternatives for our children, and community involvement in support of our public lands and in promoting an open and honest government. We need a drug free community where very child and citizen will have the opportunity to partake and prosper in a safe and healthy environment. We need a safe and crime free community that will encourage family values and offer visitors and foreign residents a positive experience.

Q:    Can Rosarito Beach meet the infrastructure needs, to meet the current boom in development? And will this boom provide more jobs for Mexicans?

HT: I’ll work to get involvement from area developers, to contribute in the improvement of our infrastructure in order to meet the new demand for better services. I want to establish a bank trust using real estate taxes and permit money to improve sewer systems, water availability and roads.

In addition to the growth of foreign investors and residents, we’re experiencing a growth of people moving here from Tijuana. Our annual population growth is now about eight percent. The new economic growth is [offering], and it will continue to offer, jobs for our Mexican residents. Real estate sales, construction, landscaping, food and beverage services, marketing, advertising, travel services, entertainment, hotel and motel jobs are expanding and offering employment opportunities for our residents.

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* At the request of the author the name is withheld.  The contributor is a journalist who works and resides in Baja California, Mexico.