1. Ana Isabel Rubio
I was born in 1985 and began my schooling at the local Bédar school before transferring to the elementary school in Los Gallardos and attending high school in Vera. I then studied hostelry in Almeria and obtained a tourism diploma from the University of Almeria. During my summer vacations I worked in a souvenir shop to pay for my studies. Since getting my diploma, I have been working as a receptionist in several outlets of the Best Hotels chain in Mojacar.
I am running for mayor because I believe the town needs change that gives its young people the possibility to work and live in their home town. I believe there are people in Bédar ready and able to work so that the town will have a better future for all.
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2. David Horton
I had two careers before retiring and moving to Spain in 2008. First I was a Methodist minister in London where, in addition to my normal duties, I also oversaw a multi-million pound development project. My second career was as a psychotherapist in private practice in Bristol. Helen and I have five children and seven grandchildren. The decision to retire to Bédar was one of the best we ever made and we are relishing living in this warm, beautiful and friendly place.
I am entering this election because I want to ensure that Bédar and its hamlets develop their unique culture and environment in the best possible way. Since joining the group, I have enjoyed being engaged with intelligent, thoughtful and committed people who want to participate in improving their community. I have also appreciated the opportunity to become more integrated with Spanish society. I thought I was beginning a well deserved retirement when in fact I may be starting a third career!
3. Cristóbal Castaño
I was born in 1983 and learned my first words at the local school in Bédar. At the age of 10, I had to transfer to the school in Los Gallardos followed by the Alyunub Institute in Vera where I obtained my high school diploma. Since graduating, I work in the family business, the town’s small supermarket.
My hobbies include travelling, fishing and nature walks. Although I personally have no experience in politics, my grandfather was mayor of Bédar during the Franco era and my uncle was town secretary. I have entered the elections both because I want to learn how to help improve things which I think are not right and to work for the future of our town.
4. Francisco Collado
I was born in Leeds. I chose photography for a career and after spending time working abroad, eventually opened a photographer’s studio in Sheffield. I met and married my wife Joyce in 1979. We took early retirement and moved to Spain in 1998.
6. Juan Antonio Soler
I am 36 years old and although my family emigrated to Barcelona, most of my relatives live in Bédar. I come here frequently to visit them and Bedar is the place where I most feel my roots. My studies were in medicine; I also have qualifications in health and safety and as a court appraiser in the prevention of work-related risks. I have been working for the past six years in emergency medicine at the Catalan Institute of Health in Barcelona. My job is to advise companies and workers on issues related to work and medicine. I also act as doctor for the town hall of Barcelona.
For many years I have been researching the mining history of Bedar and have made many contacts. I believe Bédar has an enormous potential both in tourism and human resources with people who are intelligent and hard-working. I am proud to be part of this group, composed of capable young people who want to learn and work in and for the residents of this town, as well as other more experienced residents who also want to improve their community. Together we have created a real team where youth and experience have been combined. I am convinced this is just what Bédar needs to make it a better place for everyone.
I was a member of the Levante Sostenible list and have been serving on the Bédar town council since taking over the position mid-term from Gonzalo Leal.
For many years I have been researching the mining history of Bedar and have made many contacts. I believe Bédar has an enormous potential both in tourism and human resources with people who are intelligent and hard-working. I am proud to be part of this group, composed of capable young people who want to learn and work in and for the residents of this town, as well as other more experienced residents who also want to improve their community. Together we have created a real team where youth and experience have been combined. I am convinced this is just what Bédar needs to make it a better place for everyone.
I was a member of the Levante Sostenible list and have been serving on the Bédar town council since taking over the position mid-term from Gonzalo Leal.
7. Piedad Galera
Because I could not find suitable employment, I decided to continue with my studies and recently completed my master’s degree in English at the University of Almeria. I like to travel and have visited cities such as Paris, Liverpool, Florence and Prague. I also like literature and the cinema. I have entered the elections because we want fair play and transparency from the town hall and the chance to find employment at home.
8. Robustiano GonzalezI was born and live in Bédar and am very proud to be a native of this town. I work as an electrician and enjoy my work very much. My short-term goal is to continue my training in this profession. My long-term goal is to help in whatever work is needed so that my town can grow. I don’t have much more to say except that I love animals and nature, all types of sports, and music, both as a spectator and, even better, as a participant.
9. Gonzalo Leal
I was born in Madrid in 1936 and married a woman from Almeria with whom I had five children. In the summer of 1961 during my studies to become a mining engineer, I worked at the Thorsby carbon mine in Nottingham, UK, in a technical exchange program.
My entire professional career, from 1963 to 1993, was spent in the employ of the Adaro Mining Research company. From 1977 to 1982, I worked in Peru on behalf of the Spanish embassy as head of technical cooperation in the fields of geology, copper mining and seismology. Until 1985 I was a delegate for Adaro from the Spanish-speaking world and participated in missions in Ecuador, Argentina and Mexico.
I was one of the founding members of the Levante Sostenible citizens’ platform and was a town councillor from 2007 until I was forced to resign in 2009 for health problems. During that period, I carried out a vigorous opposition campaign on behalf of the group which resulted in the positive resolution of several municipal problems which affected both Spanish and non-Spanish residents.
Along with Juan Antonio Soler, LSOS’ current councillor, and the publisher Juan Grima, I am currently studying the geological and mining history of Bédar which I believe can benefit the town as part of its rich cultural heritage.
10. Concha Arranz
I am a retired pharmacist originally from Madrid. In 1995 I fell in love with the hamlet of Serena and purchased and renovated the old mill because I didn’t want it to become a ruin like another mill nearby. I believe in sustainability which for me is keeping what’s good, maintaining it to the best of one’s ability and ensuring that nothing creates unbalance with nature, the countryside and all living creatures.
I originally got involved with Levante Sostenible to fight the high tension towers that Endesa was putting up in Mojacar. Then came the indignation of the Tortoise House in Bédar. After destroying the tortoises’ natural habitat in El Pinar, the Tortoise House has now been empty for four years and there are no more tortoises! What a waste of 80 million pesetas!
I think that good administration would not allow for such mistakes. That is why I continue to collaborate with Bédar Sostenible so that I, along with everyone – young, old, foreigners, Spanish – can help improve our lives in the town and its hamlets. By the way, I think we should clean the Alfaguara laundry facilities occasionally. There are so few such original laundries still existing today – the least we can do is to keep it clean!
