An emotional Pepe Velez took over the reins at the Town Hall after the IU candidate, Ricardo Garcia voted with the ruling PSOE party.
Veléz, who has been the second in command to Jesus Navarro during his 15 year reign, has also been in charge of Housing, Fiestas, Citizen Security, Employment, Public Works and Sport as the only paid member of the Town Hall Council.
Navarro gave up his salary as Mayor when he was elected as a regional deputy, a role in which he will continue.
The new Mayor declared these were “the most important days” of his life as he announced that tackling unemployment in Calasparra was his first objective and referred to the future reopening of the Conservez Fernadnez plant (known as La Diosa) as a priority.
The Sala de Actos was packed with family, friends and local residents keen to witness this historic moment in the town´s history. The spokesperson for the regional assembly, Begoña Garcia Retequi and the Secretary General, Rafael Gonzaléz Tovar, also attended the extraordinary meeting of the Town Hall Council last night.
