Going back now to Councillor Leslie, he's now assuming the foreground usually reserved for Mayor Darrell Bradley, and with it comes the stiff, bracing winds of council controversies. To his credit, he didn't shy away when he could have easily said that's a problem of the current mayor's making.
And maybe Leslie is comfortable enough to take on those challenging issues, because, right now, it's like he's running unopposed for Mayor. The PUP still hasn't announced its Belize City council slate, and according to Leader John Briceno, it's coming soon, though there's still no fixed date:...
Hon. John Briceno, PUP Party Leader
"We want to do something slightly different. That is why we believe that by the middle of this month of October, we're going to have a convention. We're going to rally the people in the city to present the team that is going to represent the PUP in the next municipal election.
Reporter
"That convention will be contested? Just to be clear."
Hon. John Briceno, PUP Party Leader
"As far as I know, no. Who is handling that is our Deputy Party Leader Cordel Hyde and I don't think it's going to be contested."
Dion Leslie, City Councillor
"To choose our mayoral candidate and our councilor candidate, we went to an open convention where the people choose us. The people saw it fit that these 10 councilors and myself as the mayoral candidate are those people that they want to represent them come March next year. So I must say that's the biggest difference first of all between ourselves and the PUP, myself and whoever they may put up. We weren't handpick behind closed doors. It's something that we went out to the people, we offer ourselves, we campaigned and the people choose us."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"For weeks we've been hearing that Bernard Wagner will be the candidate foe the PUP for mayor. How do you feel about the prospect, not a certainty because the PUP seem to be keeping their candidates a secret for some reason, but how do you feel about the prospect that you may have to face Bernard Wagner as a mayoral opponent?"
Dion Leslie, City Councillor
"I don't know who is the mayoral candidate, honestly. I've heard Mr. Bernard's being thrown around for quite a time. I've heard other names as well. But it doesn't matter who they put up. We will continue our work, we will do what we have to."
Leslie says that he and his team continue to campaign across the city - and plans to unveil some new initiatives shortly.
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