Darwin González (politician)
Darwin José González Padilla | |
|---|---|
| 6th Mayor of Baruta Municipality | |
| Assumed office 10 December 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Gerardo Blyde |
| Assumed office 21 November 2021[1] | |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Neighborhood Force (2021–present) |
| Alma mater | Universidad Santa María (Venezuela) (BBA) Universidad Metropolitana (Specialization in Public Management) |
Darwin José González Padilla (born 10 October 1976, Barinas, Venezuela) is a Venezuelan business administrator and politician, currently serving as Mayor of Baruta Municipality in Miranda state.
Biography
Education
González Padilla earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Universidad Santa María in 2000 and completed a Specialization in Public Management at Universidad Metropolitana in 2012.[2] In 2020, he completed a Master’s in Government and Political Studies at Universidad Metropolitana.
Personal life
González Padilla is Catholic, is married to Peggy de González, and has two children.[2]
Political career
González Padilla served as a councillor of Baruta Municipality from 2013 to 2017, originally with Primero Justicia. In the 2017 municipal elections, he ran with support from the regional party Por Amor a los Pueblos (PAP) after Primero Justicia boycotted due to alleged irregularities in the 2017 regional elections. Campaigning under the slogan “Defendamos Baruta,” he was elected Mayor on 10 December 2017 with 49.87% of the vote.[3]
González Padilla was re-elected on 21 November 2021 as Mayor of Baruta for the 2021–2025 term, representing Fuerza Vecinal, with 40,406 votes (64.13%).[1]
Controversies
Deforestation protests
In 2023, during a protest by Baruta residents against deforestation in a popular wooded area, the mayor referred to one spokesperson as a “recently graduated lawyer,” drawing criticism of his management style.[4]
Bribery allegations
An investigation published on 3 September 2023 by Armando.info reported that municipal engineer Harold Sosa and Director General Juan Carlos Posner allegedly received US$500,000 in bribes to grant permits to construction firms. González Padilla denied corruption allegations in a press conference without taking questions.[5][6]
References
- ^ a b "Regional Elections 2021 – Baruta Municipality Results". CNE. Archived from the original on 2021-11-23.
- ^ a b "El Alcalde". Alcaldía de Baruta. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ "Darwin González". Poderopedia. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
- ^ "Controversy as Baruta mayor calls protester "recently graduated"". ALnavío. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
- ^ "Prosecutor investigates Baruta Municipality for PDVSA-Cripto bribes". Armando.info. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
- ^ "Darwin González denies corruption allegations and avoids press questions". Runrun.es. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.