Just when it seemed like she would have to run for reelection as Provincial Board Member of the second district as an independent candidate, Mariant Escano Villegas was admitted Saturday as the fourth candidate for the Provincial Board under the lineup of future gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Emilio Macias II.

"Yes, that's confirmed. Mariant and I will now be in the same party," Board Member Melimore Saycon told the Visayan DAILY STAR.

Their two other running mates for the Provincial Board will be Dumaguete Councilor Saleto Erames and incumbent Board Member Erwin Macias.

A vacancy occurred in the fourth and last slot in Macias' lineup after Board Member Arturo Umbac announced his intention to run for Dumaguete City Mayor.

Macias was keeping Umbac's slot open in case the latter decided to abandon his quest for the mayorship, but Umbac said, he had already informed congressman Macias to give his slot away.

This reporter learned that Gov. George Arnaiz had been strongly recommending Villegas for inclusion in the Macias camp. Villegas, at some point, was encouraged by her supporters to run for governor instead, when chances of her running for reelection in Macias' camp seemed low.

Reached by phone, Macias said that with this set-up, he and Villegas, whose focus is on tourism, culture and the arts, would have to "iron out the edges" in their respective political agenda.

Macias said that if he wins as governor, he will give priority to an improved quality of life among his constituents through better health.*AP

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