Torrevieja's new mayor and his team.

AT LONG LAST, on Friday July 1, 2011, Eduardo Dolon was finally sworn in as Torrevieja’s Mayor.

Torrevieja’s municipal council chambers where packed with more than a hundred well-wishers from all political parties for the proceedings and after each and every councillor cast their secret ballot, and the counting was completed, Dolon was proclaimed Mayor of the Valencian Community’s fifth largest and fastest growing city.

On taking his rightful place centre stage, his first words were for “the best mayor of Torrevieja”, Pedro Hernandez Mateo, whom had just presented him with a brooch of office and the Official Chalice.  Dolon said that Hernandez Mateo “has dignified the institution in his work for a better Torrevieja.” Socialist councillor Domingo Pérez and PP councillor Luis Maria Pizana oversaw the official proceedings which started with all 27 council members, who one by one vowed and pledged their oath of office, followed by secret ballot. With 15 votes for the Popular Party, Eduardo Dolon was proclaimed Mayor of Torrevieja

Dolon also said a few words about popular former councillor Pedro Valero, who is recovering from a Heart Attack suffered last Thursday and wished him a speedy recovery. He reached out to all citizens of Torrevieja from the outset saying “the doors are open in my office,” and he offered the opposition parties “an outstretched hand, just to work (together) for the good of the citizens.” Eduardo Dolon received congratulations from the leaders of the PSOE, Angel Saez, APTCe, Domingo Soler, and the Greens, José Manuel Dolon, the rest of council, their families and a large number of attendees.

Dolon wasted no time in getting down to business and on Monday afternoon he announced the councillors and delegates who will have special responsibilities for the different government departments within the Town Hall.

The list reads as:

JOAQUÍN ALBALADEJO MARTÍNEZ

Deputy Mayor, Coordinator of Economics, Finance and Public Participation. Group spokesman Municipal Department of Economics, Finance and Purchasing. 

DOLORES SANCHEZ ALBALADEJO

Second Deputy Mayor, Area Coordinator of Government, Deputy Speaker. Chairperson for the Department of Interior (Protocol Internal Affairs and Human Resources). Councillor Secretary of the Board of Local Government.

BALLESTER THOMAS HERRERA

Department of Social Welfare, Accessibility, Equality, Women Rights.

AGUSTINA ESTEVE HUERTAS

Department of Citizen Participation, Districts and Neighbourhoods, EU Relations, Hospitality and Trade. Deputy Spokeswoman

DANIEL PLAZA MONTERO

Department of Education and Sports

MARÍA DEL CARMEN MATEO BOSCH

Department of Health, NGOs and Volunteering, Zoological department

FRANCISCO MORENO JUAREZ

Fourth Deputy Mayor, Coordinator of City Development, Deputy Spokesman, Department of Planning, Housing and Urban Development, Environment, Housing, Openings and Activities.

ROCA MARIA DOLORES SANCHEZ

Department of Fiestas, Markets, Cleaning of Buildings and Municipal Dependencies

JOSÉ ANTONIO SÁNCHEZ GARCÍA

Third Deputy Mayor, Coordinator of Citizenship Services, Deputy Spokesman, Department of Modernization and Municipal Services, Heritage and Archives.

IMMACULATE MONTESINOS PÉREZ

Department of the Third Age, Elderly, Census and Statistics

JOSÉ EDUARDO GIL REBOLLO

Fifth Deputy Mayor, Coordinator of Public Security, Department of Police and Public Safety (Fire, Civil Protection), Public Highways and Traffic.

JAVIER GÓMEZ MONTORO

Sixth Deputy Mayor, Councillor Procurement, Projects, Works and Services, Cemeteries, Street Lighting and Integral Water Cycle

ROSARIO MARTÍNEZ CHAZARRA

Department of Citizenship (International Residents, Immigration, Coexistence and Integration) and Youth.

LUIS MARIA PIZANO BOJ

Department of Tourism and Culture (Instituto Municipal de Cultura Chapaprieta Joaquin Torregrosa and Municipal Habaneras).

COUNCILLORS – DELEGATES

MARIA DEL CARMEN GOMEZ CANDEL

Department of Employment, Local Development, Parks and Gardens.

JOSÉ FERNANDO RIERA YBORRA

Department of Innovation and Information, New Technology and Consumer Affairs.

ANTONIO BOIX BALLESTER

Department of Urban Cleanliness (RSU and cleaning), Beaches, Transport, Urban Mobility and Communications. 

By Keith Nicol