IN HIS OWN WORDS; EDUARDO DOLON

EDUARDO DOLON is Torrevieja through and through. Born into a long lineage of Torrevieja families, his family tree branches back at least four generations, maybe more. At only 35, Eduardo Dolon might be one of the youngest mayor elects in any Spanish municipality but don't confuse his age for experience, as 2011 marks his twenty-first year in politics!

In the run up to the election, he was not only hard on the campaign trail but also took time out to meet with many local International groups, organisations, clubs and focus groups to gain knowledge and a firm grasp of what issues are important to Torrevieja's International Residents and visitors.

His vision is one of ‘Torrevieja for All', in that everyone who calls Torrevieja home is Torrevijense, whether they were born in the city or not. Setting aside the political campaign for a second, what is it that makes Eduardo tick and more importantly, why should you feel secure in the knowledge that when the next session of voting is concluded on two disputed tables, where the IU are desperately trying to gain a seat, Eduardo Dolon will be your Mayor of Torrevieja for the next four years.

Experience counts when it comes to politics and business. Mention his age and you can feel the raising of an eyebrow or two at twenty paces across a crowed room. Don't forget that at 21 Richard Branson was busy building his Virgin Record empire though small classifieds in the back of music magazines. At 43, JFK, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was President of the USA, the same age, 43 that David Cameron took over as Prime Minster of the UK having first become an MP at just 33. In the business world, while still in their twenties, tech guys such as Bill Gates and the Facebook boys were raking in their first millions!

It's twenty years that you must step back to discover when Eduardo first got his political feet wet, when at just 15 he joined the Nuevas Generaciones, the young generation of the PP, rising to the position of their President when only 19. The reasons for joining the PP were fairly basic to begin with as Eduardo said “The PP was a relatively new party, more exciting than other political groups. They offered more activates for teenagers, they showed more environmental awareness, a passion of mine, and it was a chance to meet and socialise with; girls!”

Eduardo headed off to University to study Business and Economics, earning a Masters Degree in the process, which he put to excellent use in managing one of the largest budgets within Torrevieja's Town Hall, as Councillor for Culture and Fiestas over the last two terms, giving him eight valuable years of experience in Town Hall operations. His love of music and culture goes back to his youth and realising that he didn't have much talent as a musician, dancer or singer he started spinning vinyl when a teenager, and Disc Jockeying became a passion of his through University and beyond.

His father kept goal for Torrevieja for many years and although he dreamt of playing one day for Real Madrid, his feet would not quite do what his brain was asking of them, so he became accomplished in Judo and represented Torrevieja in Handball, just to prove that at least his hand eye coordination works better than most! His love of the outdoors has stayed with him to this day and holidays and vacations tend to be spent hiking in the mountains rather than vacationing on the beach; not surprising really, as many summer weekends he can be found lapping up the sun on the beautiful La Mata beach.

His love of the natural environment stems from his school days when he was among the very first school pupils from Cuba school, who planted saplings in Torrevieja's natural park, which is a regular haunt of his, to ‘get away from it all.' These days he enjoys Paddle, Squash, Swimming and keeping fit in the gym. He doesn't sail, row or water ski, saying that ”I once tried Remo, rowing, but the boat tipped over and I fell in, and that was the end of my days of water sport!”

His first ‘job' was as Councillor for Culture back in 2003. His first task was to devise the Summer Cultural Program, to look for new and exciting acts and festivities and present a program with more International flavour than existed before in Torrevieja. During the last eight years he has been responsible for such names as Simple Minds, Depeche Mode, REM, Cheyenne, Shakira, Duke Ellington and Glen Miller Orchestras, Christopher Cross and many others appearing in the city.

He has also introduced new festivals such as Jazz, Blues, Punk plus Opera, Dance and Zarzuela and brought us stage shows such as Mama Mia, Chicago and Fama. His vision and drive has seen the development of new museums, exhibition centres, Virgen Del Carmen Cultural Centre, Antonio Soria Park and the jewel in the crown, the new Auditorium and Conservatory of Music. Part of his legacy will be two new projects that are in the planning stages, the Performance Arts Centre, a sort of Fame Academy for all of Torrevieja's young plus local performance groups and the International Cultural and Social Centre which he hopes should be operational in 2012.

As mayor, his number one priority is to bring employment initiatives to the city. In order to do that, he is already in negotiations regarding Hotel construction, new ideas for Tourism, improvements to the city's infrastructure, green and ecological issues plus a continuation and development of social services, health, communications, new technology and culture, to name but a few. The Spanish classes for foreigners, to help with integration, will also be promoted along with English becoming the official second language of the city and as many documents, official publications, web sites and other aids, being published in both languages.

Going hand in hand with employment is a plan to encourage local businesses through grants and subsidies, more training courses to help people get back into the work force and schemes to encourage new businesses to open in the city. Social services, bono programs and grants for the infirmed and needy, new facilities for the mentally disadvantaged and third age are all on the agenda.

Of the more than 700 proposals put forward in his election campaign, some of the more interesting ones are to bring cruise ships to Torrevieja, new festivals, expansion of Spanish Dance to bring it up to a superior level in line with the standard of music education, more schools and the introduction of more Torrevieja based University programs, while all of the city's beaches and costal zones will benefit from more facilities and improvements.

He does not like to dwell on negative politics and would rather look forward positively on how to make Torrevieja the best it can be. He feels that Torrevieja has been a thorn in the side of Zapatero and that the city has been discriminated against because it has been a PP run government for the last twenty years. As the only city in Spain with a population of more than 100,000 residents, without a National Police force, Dolon feels “the security of residents and visitors is put at risk while much smaller cities within PSOE strongholds, have received new National Police stations, some with half the population of Torrevieja!

While Pilar de la Horadada, a town with a fraction of the facilities, beaches, museums and attractions receives grants and is recognised as a Tourist City, Torrevieja is not! Even Benidorm, has not been granted this status but Horadada has; then again, it's PSOE! The twist here is, that Pilar is no longer a PSOE run council and that Zapatero has lost valuable ground throughout Spain, with millions of people asking him to call an early election rather than let Spain remain further behind the times and the rest of Europe, just to hang onto the reigns of power for a few months more than necessary!

Dolon also pointed out that “Torrevieja loses out to the tune of at least €35-million a year because the National Government only recognises Torrevieja as having a registered population of 38,000!” In reality, although Torrevieja has 103,500 on the Padron, there are always at least 180,000 living here at any one time, rising to a high of 600,000 in August and averaging around 320,000 living in the city throughout the year! It's no wonder he feels the city is being discriminated against!

Eduardo Dolon is his own man with his own vision for the future of Torrevieja. The electorate have decided that he is the future of the city and an exciting time is in store. Dolon has already expressed his desire to have a new central Tourism Office, is continuing to push for new Hotel Development and recognises that closer ties and more communication is needed between the Town Hall and the International Community.

With an estimated 60,000 or more full and part-time residents from the British Isles living in Torrevieja, high on his list of priorities is the construction of an International Social Centre, where residents will be able to hold meetings, rehearsals, have classes and contain a staging area for performances, dances and entertainment. All important documentation, web sites and publications will be at least dual language, in English and Spanish and as soon as he takes office, we will also hear world about how services at the International Residents Officies will also be expanded to further assist the international community.

Those who attended the PP International gathering at the Virgen del Carmen will have heard for themselves that he does speak English, and speaks it well. As a teenager he spent a month in London learning English however he is quick to point out that he has forgotten most of it but he does have a desire to learn English and to become comfortable in speaking and understanding English is high on his agenda.

For those of you that may find yourself face to face with Eduardo and wish to start a conversation, here are some easy ice-breakers. He prefers to relax with a cup of tea rather than coffee, his favourite beach in Torrevieja is La Mata and he hopes to learn to SCUBA one-day, so that he can enjoy the new snorkelling trail to it's fullest and explore more of Torrevieja's secret coast line.

He supports Real Madrid, enjoys walking in the mountains, likes to sing along to all kinds of music, has two left feet on the dance floor and likes to surround himself with good friends and family.

On or about July 1st, Eduardo Dolon will be inaugurated as Mayor of Torrevieja. He's a local lad married to a local girl and although they don't have any children yet, he hopes his long term future is one of serving the citizens of Torrevieja and to make the city the very best it can be, for future generations to enjoy to its fullest. His political ambitions do not extend to Valencia or Madrid.

He's happy with life in his town; Torrevieja.