Eugenio Elorduy Walther (November 21, 1940 – September 23, 2023) was a Mexican politician. He was governor of his adoptive state of Baja California from November 1, 2001 to October 31, 2007. His wife Maria Elena Blackaller served as first lady and had 4 children with Eugenio. Mariela, Erika, Eugenio, and Ernesto continue to carry out his remembrance today.
Eugenio Elorduy | |
|---|---|
| 13th Governor of Baja California | |
| In office November 1, 2001 – October 31, 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Alejandro González Alcocer |
| Succeeded by | José Guadalupe Osuna |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 21, 1940 Calexico, California, U.S. |
| Died | September 23, 2023 (aged 82) |
| Political party | National Action Party (PAN) |
| Spouse | María Elena Blackaller |
| Profession | Businessperson |
Biography edit
Elorduy graduated with honours from the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) in Business Administration in 1965. He became a member of the Partido Acción Nacional three years later and was elected as a council member in 1968 and state congressman in 1974. He was the Secretary of Finance under Ernesto Ruffo's administration (1989–1995). He was elected as president of the municipality of Mexicali for the 1995-1998 term for the National Action Party (PAN). He was elected on July 8, 2001 as governor of his state representing the PAN (in alliance with the Green Party of Mexico). Walther died on September 23, 2023, at the age of 82.[1]
Governorship of Baja California edit
In 2007 Elorduy was accused by some members of his party of supporting the primary candidacy of José Guadalupe Osuna; to this he declared that the PAN party would keep the governorship in the next six years.[2]
Organized crime edit
During the government of Ernesto Ruffo (1989–1995), Elorduy paid 150,000 pesos (roughly 50,000 US dollars) of state funds to bail out Sergio Ortiz Lara when he was accused in 1994 of collaborating with drug dealers.
In a video released by the Zeta weekly, a former commander of the state police accused Antonio Martínez Luna, Baja California's Attorney General, and other members of public security of being involved in activities regarding drug trafficking, homicide, kidnapping, disappearing and hiding of dead bodies, and accepting bribes.[3]
In 2001, Antonio Carmona, Elorduy's chief of police during his mayorship of Mexicali, was sentenced to 36 years of jail for contributing to drug-dealing and organized crime.[4]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Muere Eugenio Elorduy: El exgobernador de Baja California falleció a los 82 años (in Spanish)
- ^ La Jornada, El PAN conservará el gobierno de BC, asegura el mandatario, March 6, 2007.
- ^ La Jornada, Indagar nexos del procurador de BC con el hampa, piden en la Permanente, May 10, 2007.
- ^ La Jornada, El nuevo director del reclusorio de La Mesa fue aprehendido en 1994, August 24, 2002
External links edit
- (in Spanish) Profile at the Baja California government website.
- (in Spanish) Profile at the Mexican Government official website.