Politics is like a shark tank... clearly dangerous to dive into. The water is not murky. You can see the predators ready and waiting. So why would I endorse a candidate who is likely to finish solidly in 3rd place with about 10% of the vote: Rogelio Figueroa, Puertorriqueños por Puerto Rico?
The answer is: I am endorsing his platform of ideas only.
Does that sound like I have "commitment issues"? Perhaps. The reality is, I have had enough access to the various platforms to decide for myself which "I feel" would be best for Puerto Rico, based on an Insider perspective. But I know very little about the men themselves, and my lack of command of the Spanish language ensured that even those spirited debates were inaccessible to me, spare a few interpretations I was able to dredge out of my most significant other. 
It seems quite clear that New Progressive Party (NPP) candidate Luis Fortuño is set to win the election, fueled largely by his competitive advantage: He does not have any Federal Indictments... unlike incumbant Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá of the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico (PDP).
When I want expert blogger insight on Puerto Rican politics, I read Gil the Jenius. A quick search of his blogs shows that Gil does not have much confidence in him to say the least, describes him as an advocate lacking the experience and know-how of a political leader, and even "Egofabulous" with a questionable wardrobe during the final debate. 
Rogelio is as useful to Our politics as a baby bottle is to an auto mechanic
If the man was as visionary as one might claim his platform is, I would think Gil might have plans to vote from someone other than Spongebob. Let's subtract the man from the equation for the moment. Whether he's a good leader and decision maker or not, here are some of the tidbits of the points that resonated with me:
- Focus on "root cause" analysis with citizen participation
- Well forested pedestrian cities / Controlling urban sprawl
- Mass transport and highway infrastructure re-built using existing infrastructure
- Using technology (Internet) to streamline government processes (including permitting)
- Massive cleaning of Puerto Rico and opening up shorelines
- Green energy / energy reduction initiatives
- Regulating ugly signage
- Develop technology, ecotourism, sports, medical, & entertainment tourism
I believe with the above is laying the the framework for bringing the outsiders (and their money) inside Puerto Rico, and helping to improve the image of this Pinocchio state across the world. Insiders like myself come to this potential Paradise and think: "Wow - they really don't respect their own country". We get off shore on a boating expedition and look toward the shore thinking "absolute beauty from here". As we return to shore, we start thinking about approaching "Thunderdone" again.
If Gil is right about this guy having too much focus on himself (i.e. egomaniac), then perhaps he (i.e. Rogelio) is applying that same personal strategy to Puerto Rico: Let's work on the facade to get money to the island. Then we'll throw some of that money at the underlying, less visible problems like "education". Every good salesmen owns a blue suit right? Vila owns $3500 suits and he's going to finish 2nd despite 20+ indictments. Never underestimate the power of the facade.
And by facade I mean a clean Puerto Rico, with good roads, green trees amidst the concrete jungles, Coors Lite, Medalla and other trashy signs eliminated from "everywhere", an open shoreline, stopping trash from being "everywhere", and maybe even removing all those "bars" on people's houses and businesses (once we get that United States leading murder rate under control).
However, if we look at Rogelio's background, I also see some interesting qualifications that are not the standard politician/shark MO, but something that could lead to real change. He has humble beginnings, he's an Engineer not a Polisci, he's a specialist in "industrial processes" for many of the industries that are important to Puerto Rico's economy, he's experienced with Information Technology/Internet and how to use it effectively, he has experience as a successful small business owner, and his background suggests he not only understands the environmental issues in depth but he also feels strongly about them.
Now if it turns out that he does have some substance over style, and some real leadership ability, despite what Gil has suggested, this guy has a unique combination of skills that this world (not just Puerto Rico) needs right now, and he can affect more change as Governor than he could as an advocate. But, alas, he will finish in 3rd place, but I advocate looking deeply into his platform, pulling out the stuff that matters and pushing it on our career politician, i.e. call/write/email the newly elected Governor Luis Fortuno.
While Figueroa is destined to be #3, his ideas are "transferable". We can bank on that rule of politics: The only thing guaranteed to change after an election is the promises.
The Insider
