Nicolás Dionisio Castellanos Rivero (December 6, 1911 in Limonar, Cuba – February 10, 1985) was a Cuban politician and mayor of Havana from 1947 to 1952.[1] Castellanos was the president of the Havana City Council until succeeding Manuel Fernández Supervielle as mayor. He was a member of the Authentic Party when taking the mayoral position.[2] He was married to Laudelina Fernández Castellanos and had three children. Castellanos and his family left Cuba after the Cuban Revolution.

Nicolás Castellanos
Photograph of Castellanos and his wife, 1951
Mayor of Havana, Cuba
In office
1947–1952
Succeeded byManuel Fernández Supervielle
Personal details
Born
Nicolás Dionisio Castellanos Rivero

December 6, 1911
Limonar, Cuba
DiedFebruary 10, 1985
SpouseLaudelina Castellanos
Nicolás Castellanos and wife, Laudelina Fernandez Castellanos, visiting Key West (Feb. 1951)

Mayor of Havana

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Castellanos took office in 1947 after the mayor, Manuel Fernández Supervielle, committed suicide. When Castellanos took office Havana's main issue was a lack of water. Castellanos allocated 26 million pesos to complete the third expansion of Acueducto de Albear.[3] He ran for a second term in 1950, using his accomplishments of solving Havana's water issues as the focus of his campaign, causing the election to be termed "The Bathtub Election". He won the nomination over his opponent, Antonio Prío Socarrás, with 171,828 votes to 119,555.[4]

Visit to Key West

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In 1951, then mayor, Castellanos, had an official visit to Key West, Florida with his wife Laudelina "Lila" Fernandez Castellanos. They arrived on February 24 and were greeted by C.B. Harvey, then mayor of Key West, and his wife Wilhelmina Harvey. [5] This visit was important as Cuba and The United States faced political troubles, with Havana and Key West having only 93 miles of separation.

References

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  1. ^ Myers, David; Dietz, Henry (2002). Capital City Politics in Latin America: Democratization and Empowerment. Lynne Rienner Publishers. p. 169. ISBN 978-1-58826-040-6.
  2. ^ "Reno Evening Gazette". Reno, Nevada. May 5, 1947.
  3. ^ Miradondepisas, Lourdes (May 13, 2012). "La Habana, Cuba". Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  4. ^ "CUBA: The Bathtub Election". Time. June 12, 1950. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  5. ^ "Havana Mayor's visit". History Dept., May Hill Russell Library, Key West. 1951. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)