Mexico mayoral candidate was killed in Gulf Coast town at the beginning of municipal movement
Xalapa, Mexico (AP) – Armed officers killed a mayoral candidate Tuesday, killed a candidate from Mexico's council and injured others on Tuesday in the first day of municipal elections held on the state of Veracruz on the Gulf Coast.
His campaign confirmed the killing in the small town of Coxquihui, as well as Luisa Alcalde, the leader of the Morena Party of Claudia Sheinbaum.
Valencia just finished a campaign to kick off his campaign and was ready to take to the streets when more than twenty gunmen opened fire at the campaign headquarters in northern Veracruz.
Veracruz authorities did not immediately comment on the attack.
Prior to the killing, National Home Secretary Ricardo Ahued Bardahuil, who has security responsibility, said candidates from all parties had published 20 reports on security-related issues to the state attorney’s office.
Municipal elections are scheduled to be held on June 1 at 212 municipalities in Veracruz.
Historically, local candidates are the most vulnerable to electoral violence as organized criminal groups try to control local governments.
