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Against all odds, four years ago the view was imposed on the machinery in several capital cities when choosing their mayors. Cartagena and was given the nod to Judith Pinedo, Alonso Salazar was able to claim victory in Medellín and Jorge Iván Ospina, an independent doctor, came to power in Cali. They were joined by Alejandro Char in Barranquilla, who although he came through the machine, it printed fresh to coastal policy. Throughout his tenure, the four agreed on a civic vision of public service that combined public works with a marked cultural change. Began-or continued-a flowering of the great cities of the country.

In the arena, few want Char leaves office. With a 90 percent approval, is by far the most popular in the country. Cleaned up finances, created a new health system and paved over 500 miles of track. Even his closeness with the group and failure Nule urbanization of Campo Alegre and Garden City, which left more than 5,000 people homeless, he took their toll.

In Cali, no one can deny that gave Jorge Iván Ospina timonazo. The city, which called for urgent public works and was buffeted by the killings, now recognizes the success of MIO mass transit system and the implementation of more than 21 megaprojects. The tranquility of the Cali is reflected in good grades Ospina, whose approval rating hovers around 70 percent.

For his part, ‘Mariamulata’ he declared war on the traditional political Cartagena, progress in building of schools, has an ambitious housing project and could end the Integrated Transport System. No less has worked in Medellín Alonso Salazar, who has tried to keep the hot streak that began his predecessor, Sergio Fajardo, and especially highlights the courage and uprightness with which he has addressed one of the most violent situations the city.

But now, when they begin to play cards for elections October 30, several questions arise: between candidates seeking to succeed them there are those who can ensure the good run? How does the National Unity? Who will win the pulse: the coalition or opinion?

Barranquilla: unbeatable coalition?
Char Alex won over the people visiting the neighborhoods and offered a different side of politics as usual. But it seems that this will be to choose a successor. The great families of the Atlantic, such as Name, the Char-Gerlein and representing the U, the Conservatives and Radical Change, have chosen to Elsa Noguera, Treasury Secretary Char and vice presidential Germain Vargas formula as its candidate to succeed him. This expert on many issues attributed to the fiscal consolidation of the city and no doubt that his would be a government of continuity.

Although this alliance seems to be discounted, the fact is that the idea came from a breakfast between Fuad Char and Joseph Name, but is not written in stone. And while this is the version of the Char or close to Noguera, another version says that Senator Joseph David Name continues to support the aspiration of Juan Garcia, a former secretary in the administration of Mayor Hoenigsberg.

Moreover, it is unclear when the alliance will be implemented between the Liberal Party and Radical Change and how it will affect the election, but most likely is that liberals support Noguera. On the sides of the green, it was thought that Cecilia Lopez would be a candidate, but she denied those rumors saying: “I have no chance, but I’m going to sing the powerful table and I will support independent candidates.”

Medellin: The third ’round’
As in the past two elections, the pulse will be among the leading sector of the opinion that the former mayor Sergio Fajardo and traditional machinery of the former mayor Luis Pérez.

Perez is already defined as a candidate, despite being the Liberal Party and have been with the U in the presidential campaign, and began collecting signatures in the streets to take a new look independent. Not be ruled out that Perez, who has hired the controversial adviser JJ Rendón, is one of the competitors for being the candidate of the coalition of conservatives and the U, which has already begun to arise. And in that case, would have to compete with Dario Montoya, former director of the Seine, and with Carlos Ignacio Cuervo, a former deputy health minister.

In another sector, Fajardo line, making the idea that force is the former Antioquia governor Anibal Gaviria, the candidate who will make a counterweight to Luis Perez. Gaviria would have the support of the group of Fajardo, and in this way, the Green Party and the Liberals. In the red awnings, the only candidate registered so far is Bernardo Alejandro Guerra, current councilman known for his fight against corruption.

Cali: PIN factor

Cali right now that seems to have recovered his temper, paradoxically, is where the picture is more confusing. There is not a name that stands out among the candidates, but what is clear is that the ground has become increasingly controversial PIN makes it a key player in the race.

Aware politicians say the PIN you want to stay with the Government of the Valley and that it needs to coalition. For this the party of former Senator Juan Carlos Martinez, currently on trial, support a candidate for mayor of Cali party to support them in that choice. It seems that the alliance would be with the U sound game that Susana Correa, an engineer close to former President Alvaro Uribe, Clara Luz Roldan, Councillor near Dilian Francisca Toro, and José Fernando Gil, Councillor Roy’s affections Barriers . “The candidate will be decided through internal consultation,” said Gil.

Although the motion of Mayor Ospina some of his colleagues want to launch, sources close to the president does not rule out that this goes to support a consensus candidate who could get out of The U, conservatism, liberalism and “polar areas not dogmatic.” For the Conservative Party, all indications are that the council will be the letter Castrillón Milton to recover from the three failed aspirations of the former minister Francisco Lloreda.

Cartagena without ‘Mariamulata’
The dispute over the succession of Judith Pinedo will be difficult, because there are already several candidates and the mayor has not taken sides. For now, radio journalist Campo Elías Terán, known in the popular sectors, and the former Councillor for Radical Change Bustamante María del Socorro, near Senator Daira Galvis, appears either in the polls.

But the range is much larger. Include the former deputy minister of Mines Silvana Giaimo, who was Secretary of Planning, whose name generates political consensus. And Juan Carlos Gossaín, who lost in the last contest with ‘Mariamulata’ and have the endorsement of the U Party, led by Sen. Piedad in Bolivar Zuccardi. Possibly also support the former mayor and his son Nicolas Curi William Montes.

The movement supported Pinedo – Cartagena 1815 – also has the letter to the former manager Luis Guillermo Otoya Surtigas Gerdts. The best option to ensure the continuity of a government without patronage would be the least contaminated with traditional politics, as Silvana Giaimo and Luis Guillermo Otoya, but must contend with traditional sectors who want to regain lost ground in these three years.

Just start to shuffle the cards. This is just a taste of what promises to be an interesting contest that will be key to define where these cities will go with its current administration, are trying to rebuild their future.