Political Career
Zayas Seijo got involved in politics in 1984 when Raúl Ramírez, mayoral candidate, recruited him to be part of his team. Even though they were defeated, Zayas established himself as the minority spokesman. He remained in that position until 1991.
That year, his uncle, Humberto Zayas Chardón, retired from politics and vacated the seat he occupied in the Puerto Rico House of Representatives. Zayas ran for the post and was elected by the party. He represented the 25th Representative District (Ponce and Jayuya) for 13 years. He presided the House's Comisión de Hacienda (English: Treasury Commission) during the administration of governor Sila Calderón.
In 2000 he presided over an important commission that investigated government financial procedures a few months before the general election. The work he did garnered him all sort of criticism from his political opposition.
In 2004, Zayas Seijo was elected unanimously as the official candidate for the mayoral seat in Ponce, after the death of long-time mayor Rafael Cordero Santiago. On November 2, 2004, he was elected mayor of Ponce by an ample margin. He was sworn into office on January 9, 2005.
On November 4, 2008, Zayas Seijo lost the election to the candidate of the New Progressive Party, Dr. María "Mayita" Meléndez Altieri and was succeeded on January 12, 2009.
Read more about this topic: Francisco Zayas Seijo
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