Are they really running?

By Eva C. Visperas

I tried to get the answers directly from the horses’ mouths, as they say.

I saw Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin Lim and his young and simpatico son Brian at the Archbishop’s Palace last Tuesday. I requested a short interview separately with the father and son. Request granted.

From what I noted, the two are bent on running, the father for congressman of Pangasinan fourth district and his son Brian Lim for city mayor.

But the duo’s political fight has to pass through the proverbial   needle’s eye as they will be clashing against political giants. Mayor Lim has to slug it out with re-electionist House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.  who will defend his title as Pangasinan fourth  district congressman while the 28-year old Brian,  Boston College educated, will likely face Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr., a former  three-term city mayor here.

While Mayor Lim’s congressional candidacy has been widely known in Pangasinan, he said, “We still have exactly 30 days before the D-day so let me contemplate, pray and get spiritual guidance both from God  and from our friends and then we make the final decision in time.”

The elder Lim, a former congressman, denied reports that de Venecia gave him a deadline to decide whether or not he will push through with his congressional aspiration. He clarified that the Speaker only asked him about his plans and when he expects to finally decide. He said this March.

Brian, for his part, who was appointed late last year by his father as his chief of staff, said “It’s very difficult to say right now whether I’m going to run for a public position. Anyway, the deadline has not elapsed.” He said his daddy has been guiding him going around and consulting with people and pointed out that the final decision will come from him.

He also admitted though that he’s been very visible right now and has been going around consulting various leaders and sectors. “This is basically to gauge what kind of support I will be able to get from the grassroots level if ever we push through our fight later,” he said.

He said he feels more encouraged to work despite his having seen the difficulties of his father’s job as city mayor.  But as chief executive of their family-owned Magic Group of Companies which comprises of chain of malls in this city and in the cities of Alaminos, Urdaneta, San Carlos and in Mangaldan that employ about 4,000 people, he believes he can make his management skills in the city hall useful.

Asked what his father has taught him about politics, Brian said, “You just have to do what you have to do. Always do the right thing (and) be a principled leader.”

After my interview, I told Mayor Lim that his son is a better speaker than him. He laughed and agreed, saying, “He is my speechwriter”.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/business-log/)

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