Candidates accelerate towards Thomé de Souza

Bahia Tribune

In the midst of a growing campaign, the candidates for the Thomé de Souza Palace filled their schedules yesterday with walks in Cidade Baixa, meetings with black organizations, and gatherings to discuss government plans. However, a tribute to the memory of one of Bahia's most influential politicians, Senator Antonio Carlos Magalhães, who passed away five years ago, brought together two contenders in the October election, ACM Neto (DEM) and Mário Kertész (PMDB), at the same event.

The PMDB member, who until then had signaled a closer relationship with the PT member Nelson Pelegrino, with a view to a possible second round, yesterday put aside their differences and inaugurated a friendly atmosphere with the Democrat.

They both sat close together at the mass celebrated in the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God, the sanctuary of Sister Dulce. Neto, currently the senator's main political heir, read the gospel and became emotional when patients from Santo Antônio Hospital entered the church carrying a photo of the senator alongside Sister Dulce.
"Remembering my grandfather always makes me very proud of everything he did for this land and fills me with longing. We were very close," he emphasized.

Mayoral candidate Kertész, from the "Salvador Tem Jeito" coalition (PMDB/PSC), who despite criticism has never hidden his connection to ACM, having served as Planning Secretary in one of his governments, said he could not miss an event honoring "his great friend and one of the main political figures in the state."

"I would never fail to come and pay homage to my great friend. At Grupo Metrópole, I always made a point of paying tribute to ACM and remembering important dates connected to him. In his own way, with errors and mistakes, Antonio Carlos left a legacy of immense love and many things done for Bahia," he stated.

The religious ceremony was attended by family members, the president of the Democrats party, José Carlos Aleluia, Neto's running mate, Célia Sacramento (PV), the superintendent of the Sister Dulce Social Works (OSID), Maria Rita Lopes Pontes, admirers, friends, and patients of OSID. After the mass, Neto took a walk through the communities of Mangueira and Massaranduba.

Once again, the Democrat promised a participatory approach to governance by bringing the city hall to the neighborhoods furthest from the center. "We must prioritize those who need it most and who clamor for essential works to improve their quality of life," he said.

Candidate Nelson Pelegrino (PT) also visited Cidade Baixa, where he walked through the Uruguai neighborhood. To improve the security sector, he stated that he will meet monthly with the Secretary of Public Security, the Chief of the Civil Police, and the Commander of the Military Police to evaluate crime suppression throughout the city.

"The city government has to do its part to guarantee the tranquility of the citizens, and I will also increase the number of municipal guards, who will work alongside the police," he stated.

Candidate Márcio Marinho (PRB), in a meeting with members of the Forum of Black Entities of Bahia, stated that "achieving a high position in society is for a black person not only a personal victory, but also a battle won against racial prejudice."

PSOL candidate Hamilton Assis met with the general campaign coordination at the party headquarters and participated in the Seminar of the Brazilian Writers' Union at the Central Library of Barris.

Tadeu da Luz (PRTB) campaigned at the Calçada train station and in the Suburbana area, accompanied by his vice-presidential candidate, Antônio Neto.