Mayoral Elections Underway And Does Anyone Know or Care?
The first Sunday in December is the date set for the municipal elections in the country and it will cost Costa Ricans some ¢2.000 million colones (us$3.88 million dollars) and does anyone know or care who is running for mayor and council seats in their municipality?

Not many, according to a recent survey by the local television stations.

The Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) is responsible for receiving the nominations and holding the election for the municipalities that will be held on Monday December 3 across the nation.

For more information on the election and the of the candidates who are running and their posts, click on www.tse.go.cr.

For San José, thos running for Mayor are incumbent, Johnny Francisco Araya Monge, who is being challenged by, Ligia Paniagua Obando, José Francisco Herrera Umaña, Antonio José Garcia Alexandre, Joaquin Arturo Robles Arias, and Luis Mariano Castillo Lopez.

One of the reasons cited for the lack of public interest is the lack of funds by the parties fielding candidates. The municipal elections is so close to the presidential elections of last February and the parties have yet to receive their share of the presidential elections payments, and have no funds to mount lavish campaigns.

The other reason could also be a lack of general interest by Costa Ricans in elections and their politicians, which could see one of the smallest turnout in mayoral elections so far.