Mayor Darío James of Gaiman, Argentina, Dies at 56

Darío Ernesto James, the mayor of the Patagonian town of Gaiman, died on Thursday at age 56 after a complicated heart operation at a private clinic in Trelew. He had been hospitalized for a cardiac condition and did not survive the surgery.

James, a longtime member of the Unión Cívica Radical, was first elected mayor in 2019 with about 55% of the vote and was re‑elected in 2023 for a term ending in 2027. Before entering politics he worked for more than three decades at the local cooperative, was an agricultural producer, beekeeper and volunteer firefighter. Following his death the municipality declared a three‑day period of mourning, lowered the national and provincial flags to half‑mast and suspended administrative work. Chubut Governor Ignacio "Nacho" Torres expressed his condolences, calling James a "great mayor and a great person" who was deeply committed to the community.