Debate ignites a 'lighthouse' for voters in Cuenca

The auditorium of the University of Azuay hosted the first official debate of candidates for the Mayor's Office of Cuenca. 11 attended 13 guests. The contest went to two groups drawn by a notary. The attendance was small but the repercussion of the transmissions, televising and online, activated the favoritism; the representatives of the organizers Grupo Faro and Ecuador Decide, hope that they have also activated consciences.

An hour before, the entrance door is full of followers of Paul Carrasco. It's a party. The second participant with the most bar is Marcelo Cabrera. The municipality's largest flat media was there to encourage it.

Prior to the staging the audio is ready, "say 1, 2, 3 testing" asks the soundman, "5 and 1, all for the 51" replies Tarquino Orellana, breaking the ice of a tense prelude with no more handshakes that the one of Diego Monsalve, adviser of Carrasco, and Marcelo Cabrera, "a personal friend", of the also candidate to councilman by the list of the exprefecto.

"All ready. We started in five minutes ", says the production, interrupted by the hurried step of Jaime Astudillo who arrives" with the jousts ". It was time for the first contest, which despite being the opening was shown as stellar. The water to hydrate the throat lasts what it takes to get the first attack. The objective of the night was Marcelo Cabrera and his administration, to which Tarquino Orellana fustiga with a "the Municipality has been an obstacle for the development of the city". Jaime Astudillo seconds him, Brandon Tenesaca as well, while Carrasco fights against the faults in the audio.

Cabrera, "surprised" by the attacks of his contenders, defends himself at all costs. The first question is about the problem of the disorderly growth of the city. Nobody responds

Second round: the theme is mobility. Orellana takes the opportunity to launch his second coup: "in the municipality there is no planning"; this time Carrasco joins the questioning, Tenesaca also, while Jaime Astudillo decides to change his strategy and questions Carrasco, but this turn has no effect. Again Cabrera is under fire. It misses his opportunity to attack and uses it to defend himself. Orellana takes advantage of it and hits again: "we did not do what was due on time," he said. The tram, the bike as an alternative mode of transport and the improvement of the buses were proposed by everyone.

Third round: water and environment. This time he starts Cabrera and does it with a presentation of accounts and continuity offers. Then Orellana launches a "since the 2012 nothing has been done to defend the water. The city does not need only parks. " Carrasco attacks the problems in the potable water service, and Astudillo questions the Municipality's position on mining. In the summary of responses, none supports mining. All propose to fight for water and save the planet.

Last round: Gender rights are treated with individual questions for each one, a medium truce and attacks take a break. Cabrera breathes. Proposals range from women's assemblies to child care centers.

The final section arrives. Carrasco is the winner "I'm going ahead in the polls," he says. Cabrera congratulates him with irony. The others do the same. Less Tenesaca, who gives up and asks "the winner" to accept their proposals, but not before launching one last blow: "Mr. Orellana, what did you do for Cuenca when you were a councilor?", Questions the Concertación candidate.

The fight in the background is an open forum enlivened by the constant Juan Campoverde: "the mayor who does his word." So he answered all the questions, ending up making laughs at the sound engineers. The lethargy is noticeable. The candidate Jaime Rodas is even lost between questions and the end comes with an "at the end" of the master's control, which is barely heard. The proposals are available on the Ecuador Decide website. The winner of the contest will know the March 24. (I)

GENERAL INFORMATION
-Ausencias. The candidates Jefferson Pérez, of Renace, and Gustavo Jara, of Social Commitment, did not appear despite being invited to the debate.
-Repercussion. The debate was broadcast by Telerama and by digital platforms through streaming. It was the subject of discussion in the radio media.
-Guayaquil and Quito. Candidates from these cities will also participate in the debate. Cinthya Viteri and Paco Moncayo will not attend the meetings.