Jesús Alberto Pontones sworn in as Cuenca councilor after Isidoro Gómez Cavero's death

Jesús Alberto Pontones took the oath of office on Monday as a councilor of the Cuenca City Council, filling the seat left vacant by the late Isidoro Gómez Cavero. In his inaugural speech he called the moment “deeply bittersweet” and devoted most of his remarks to honoring Gómez Cavero, describing him as a political reference, a personal friend and a driven leader of the local municipalist group Cuenca Nos Une.

Pontones quoted Marie Curie, saying “the best life is not the longest, but the one filled with good deeds,” and pledged to let the sadness of Gómez Cavero’s absence guide his work. The ceremony included a minute of silence for Gómez Cavero, a municipal employee Juan Pablo Leiva Abascal who died earlier, and victims of gender‑based violence. Mayor Darío Dolz welcomed Pontones and other council members.

The new councilor affirmed his commitment to continue the political project initiated by Gómez Cavero and to advance the development of Cuenca as envisioned by the late leader.