The UDP has given prospective candidates for municipal elections until tomorrow to submit their names. As we showed you last week - 8 returning candidates from the Belize City Council submitted their names early. But, the two-term Mayor of Belize City, Darrell Bradley has not submitted his name - and reports from within the council quote him as saying that he won't run again because his wife doesn't want him to do so. When we asked him about that off camera today - he didn't deny it. Of course, this is a familiar pattern for Bradley who kept going back and forth on the issue before the last election - and then eventually submitting his name for mayor weeks after the deadline has passed.
In that case, Dion Leslie - who had already put in his name - was forced to step aside and make way for Bradley. But, this time around it looks like Phillip Willoughby may be the one who wants to jump the queue and zoom to the top spot. Willoughby told us last week that he was waiting for the result of medical tests to see if he would be running again as a councillor. Today we asked him about those test results - and he played it very cagey:...
Jules Vasquez
"Are you running as a councilor? Last week when we spoke you said you needed to check with your team of physicians. Have they given you clearance?"
Phillip Willoughby, City Councillor
"No, I have done the CT scans. I just need to engage with the doctor who is not here locally and I will go in to check tomorrow to see where we are with that."
Jules Vasquez
"Some who observe this sort of thing would say that you're playing it slightly cagey, because you are waiting to see if the mayor who is that other office, will submit his name, because now he is saying that he won't. And he doesn't run for mayor, you would certainly be interested in the job."
Phillip Willoughby, City Councillor
"I will answer that question by saying this, I have the requisite credentials in MBA. That should count for something, if I opt to say that is a sticking point. I opt to say that, in equivalent to deputy mayor Dean Samuels, one of the most senior councilors seated. That must count for something. I think everybody have recognize my work ethic for sure. That must count for something and if I want to face off against the mayor, there shouldn't be any harm in that. I believe that gives the residents of the city if I do opt to take that option or that choice, an option to choose and of which would be in the best interest of all. People like fair competition. People like hard workers, so if that is the case then that is the case."
Jules Vasquez
"I hate to bring up a negative point, but you know you poll first to last in the last election."
Phillip Willoughby, City Councillor
"Well that may be..."
Jules Vasquez
"That was.."
Phillip Willoughby, City Councillor
"That was. It could be it is the fact, but things change, events change, season change, I am a man for all season a man for all the people, but either which way..."
Reporter
"There is a likelihood that if you decide you are going to run that you would submit for mayor or councillor."
Phillip Willoughby, City Councillor
"And why not both."
"Why not both"? - It seems councillor Dion Leslie feels the same way and reports say he may also submit his name for Mayor after already submitting as councillor.
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