2009 Belizean municipal elections

A municipal election was held in Belize on 4 March 2009. Voters elected sixty seven representatives, eighteen in city councils (11 Belize City, 7 Belmopan) and forty nine in town councils.

Participating parties

• United Democratic Party (incumbents)
• People's United Party
• Vision Inspired by the People (Belmopan only)
• Benque Association (Benque Viejo only)
• People's National Party (Punta Gorda only)
• Congress of the P.G. People (Punta Gorda only)

Belize City

Mayor of Belize City Zenaida Moya will seek reelection after fighting off a challenge by Councillor Anthony Michael. She will be challenged by retired public officer Dr. Cecil Reneau.

Belmopan

Simeon Lopez, sitting mayor, won a local convention on August 17, defeating younger challengers Khalid Belisle and subordinate Eugene Brown. He will be challenged by the PUP's Rosalind Casey.

Towns

The slates for all district towns have been selected.

Schedule

• February 4: Announcement of polls and nomination date.
• February 9: Presentation of PUP municipal manifestos
• February 16: Candidates for municipal councils formally nominated at local election office.
• February: Presentation of UDP municipal manifestos
• March 4:
  • 7:00 A.M., opening of polls
  • 6:00 P.M., close of polls;
  • 8:00 P.M., counting of votes begins.
• March 5: Earliest date each council can be formally sworn into office.

Voter turnout

• Belize City: 36.8%
• Belmopan: 46.84%
• San Pedro: 61.04%
• Corozal: 52.81%
• Orange Walk: 72.90%
• San Ignacio/Santa Elena: 54.22%
• Benque Viejo: 71.49%
• Dangriga: 41.97%
• Punta Gorda: 58.43%

Final results

Corozal Town

Candidates	Office Sought	Votes Polled/%	Elected
Hilberto Enrique Campos	Mayor (UDP)	2145 (31.87%)	elected
Aaron Ubaldo Babb	Councilor (UDP)	2373 (35.26%)	elected
Jude Stanley Budna	Councilor (UDP)	2367 (35.17%)	elected
Willie Joselle Cruz	Councilor (UDP)	2362 (35.10%)	elected
Abigail Karina Gomez	Councilor (UDP)	2311 (34.34%)	elected
Kenisha Yvonne Esquivel	Councilor (UDP)	2302 (34.21%)	elected
Nonita Encarnacion Ramirez	Councilor (UDP)	2306 (34.26%)	elected
Ivan J. Castillo	Mayor (PUP)	1739 (25.84%)
Rosa Casanova	Councilor (PUP)	1716 (25.50%)
Miriam Gilharry Gomez	Councilor (UDP)	1725 (25.63%)
Raul Altamira Mai	Councilor (PUP)	1759 (26.14%)
Arcenio Vasquez	Councilor (PUP)	1716 (25.50%)
Miguel Ricalde	Councilor (PUP)	1799 (26.73%)
Tulio Rodriguez	Councilor (PUP)	1720 (25.56%)
Edward "Head" Henderson	Mayor (Independent)	112 (1.66%)

Orange Walk Town

Candidates	Office Sought	Votes Polled/%	Elected
Phillip Marvin de la Fuente	Mayor (UDP)	3538 (35.60%)	elected
Raul "Splash" Alcoser	Councilor (UDP)	3452 (34.74%)
David Israel Constanza	Councilor (UDP)	3551 (35.73%)	elected
Eduardo Eustacio Leiva	Councilor (UDP)	3435 (34.56%)
Joel Enrique Madera	Councilor (UDP)	3494 (35.16%)	elected
Xenia Enid Morales	Councilor (UDP)	3553 (35.75%)	elected
Carlos Andres Perera	Councilor (UDP)	3355 (33.76%)
Ramon "Monchi" Cervantes	Mayor (PUP)	3392 (34.13%)
Rozel Arana Flores	Councilor (PUP)	3545 (35.67%)	elected
Rafael Avila	Councilor (PUP)	3463 (34.85%)
Kevin Bernard	Councilor (PUP)	3499 (35.21%)	elected
Josue Carballo	Councilor (PUP)	3531 (35.53%)	elected
Alexander Lopez	Councilor (PUP)	3415 (34.36%)
Faride Riverol	Councilor (PUP)	3434 (34.55%)

San Ignacio/Santa Elena

Candidates	Office Sought	Votes Polled/%	Elected
John Francis August, Jr.	Mayor (UDP)	2706 (26.77%)	elected
Eduardo Cano	Councilor (UDP)	3426 (33.89%)	elected
Orlando Moses Chuc	Councilor (UDP)	3540 (35.02%)	elected
Bernadette Fernandez	Councilor (UDP)	3705 (36.65%)	elected
Desol D. Neal	Councilor (UDP)	3502 (34.64%)	elected
Vanessa Jeaneane Neal	Councilor (UDP)	3595 (35.56%)	elected
A. Earl Trapp	Councilor (UDP)	3664 (36.24%)	elected
Jose Hermilio "Mendee" Mendoza	Mayor (PUP)	1061 (10.50%)
Nasim Elias Lisbey	Councilor (PUP)	1448 (14.32%)
Gabriel Jorge "Benjy" Maldonado	Councilor (PUP)	1378 (13.63%)
Jose Vicente "Joe Marr" Marr, Sr.	Councilor (PUP)	1471 (14.55%)
Marleni Celene "Guerra" Torres	Councilor (PUP)	1347 (13.32%)
Yolla Asme "Yolla Flores" Vasquez	Councilor (PUP)	1339 13.25%
Luis Amett "Cal" Zaiden	Councilor (PUP)	1367 (13.52%)
Luis Ayala	Mayor (Independent)	137 (1.36%)
Alfonso "Poncho" Cruz	Mayor (Independent)	1312 (12.98%)

Benque Viejo del Carmen Town

Candidates	Office Sought	Votes Polled/%	Elected
Nicholasito Russel "Nick" Ruiz	Mayor (UDP)	1813 (47.03%)	elected
Ana Melita Castellanos	Councilor (UDP)	1687 (43.76%)	elected
Constance Frances "Concie" Hyde	Councilor (UDP)	1684 (43.68%)	elected
Salvador Jorge Iglesias	Councilor (UDP)	1838 (47.68%)	elected
Marcos Moises "Checha" Kotch	Councilor (UDP)	1747 (45.32%)	elected
Eric Raul Manzanero	Councilor (UDP)	1726 (44.77%)	elected
Miguel Angel "Mike" Velasquez	Councilor (UDP)	1784 (46.28%)	elected
Shelly Hernandez Pacheco	Mayor (PUP)	539 (13.98%)
Irma Araceli Garcia	Councilor (PUP)	540 (14.01%)
Kenny Giovani Luna	Councilor (PUP)	568 (14.73%)
Francisco Manuel "Moya" Portillo	Councilor (PUP)	585 (15.18%)
Luis Enrique "Kike" Quiroz	Councilor (PUP)	578 (14.99%)
Jose Luis "Wicho" Rodriguez	Councilor (PUP)	547 (14.19%)
Daisy Yacab Magana	Councilor (PUP)	558 (14.47%)
Humberto Moh	Mayor (Benque Association)	56 (1.45%)
Asmin Betancourt	Councilor (Benque Association)	66 (1.71%)
Eric Walter Billalta	Councilor (Benque Association)	50 (1.30%)
Elmer Galvez	Councilor (Benque Association)	48 (1.25%)
Carlos Manuel Gomez	Councilor (Benque Association)	57 (1.48%)
Jose Eduardo Gongora	Councilor (Benque Association)	53 (1.37%)
Martin Ricardo Mendez	Councilor (Benque Association)	45 (1.17%)

Media coverage

• LOVE FM, Channel 5: Decision 2009
• KREM FM, Krem Television, Channel 7: The Big Test 2009
• WAVE Radio, BBN: Election Watch 2009
• Plus Television (Belmopan), Integrity Radio (Belize City): unknown
• Live Election Results and pictures on www.orangewalk.net by FarWorld Tech of Orange Walk Town, Belize.