The spokesperson for the opposition PSOE party was scathing on Thursday about the lack of publicity given by the Orihuela Council coalition to the elections for the District Boards that were held across the municipality.
These Boards, of which there are 13 in Orihuela, are an important part of the Political structure of a municipality. They are political-administrative bodies created with the aim of facilitating public participation in local affairs and bringing their administration closer to residents, thereby improving the effectiveness of the public services they manage.
The composition of a District Board comprises of a councillor, chosen by the mayor, as chairperson, along with a member of each political group with representation on the council; while, for the general public, there are a maximum of 7 representatives from associations and 6 elected by residents.
On the council website it is stated, “The District Boards are the highest body of citizen participation,” and yet, other than an article written on 11 December last year, calling for nominations, there seems to be no further information.
Nevertheless, in Orihuela, the elections were held on Thursday but, apart from Orihuela Costa, where the publicity was plentiful, provided through social media by residents associations and local political parties, it was distinctly lacking elsewhere.
In a statement, Maria Gracia said, “”We do not understand how the Council has not informed the residents of where and how they should vote, and neither have they been encouraged to attend the voting centres and do so.”
“This process is very important” according to the Gracia since, “the people who will represent each district will emerge from these votes and will then be able to promote the interests of the residents who have elected them democratically, however, unless people have been watching carefully, or have participated on other occasions, they will not be aware, because the council has not provided any information to citizens to inform them about this process,” the councillor said.
But despite the participation in District 1-9 the turnout of individuals wishing to vote in the Orihuela Costa Districts X and XI was said to be encouraging, with a steady stream arriving at the Alameda del Mar throughout the day.
Member of PIOC were stopped by the Policia Local from distributing leaflets that explained the voting procedure in English, following a complaint, but despite this one incongruity, with local representatives and candidates on hand at the door, the mood was said to be jovial.
The polling centre staff were also praise for being particularly helpful, and with the vote closing at 5pm the counting of ballots was underway very shortly thereafter with the results published just an hour later.
The top six candidates were elected to their respective board from each District with votes cast as follows:
Seven years ago each District Board was given an allocation of 70,000 euros to manage their own projects but in her criticism of the election Councillor Garcia said that the new boards are already “born empty of content,” because we already know that, according to the councillor for Participation, Mari Carmen Portugal, this year the budget will not include any items for Participatory Budgets, a situation that has discouraged many people from taking part.
But, while District Boards have not been a great success in the Orihuela Municipality in recent years, with neither District seeing very little to benefit their representation, they are a first step for those elected to represent the coast, who must now use wisely, and to good effect, the additional influence that their new status will bring.
