The mayor of Valladolid, Jesus Julio Carneroannounced this Saturday that the city council will devote a new place in the city to the former “popular” mayor Javier León de la Riva, located in the “City of Communication-Ariza” sector, in homage to 20 years of “transformative” actions which he promoted during his four terms.
The first mayor made this announcement during the inauguration of the Day Fair, which took place this year with 81 stands, spread across 18 districts of the citywhere he stressed that “it is time for the capital of Pisuerga to recognize one of the best mayors who, during 20 years old, he did his best so that all the inhabitants of Valladolid enjoy better levels of coexistence and prosperity. Furthermore, he considered that the penalty for disobedience imposed by Justice does not tarnish the recognition that this position aims to obtain.
In this regard, the first mayor of the capital of Pisuerga stressed that the Fairs and Festivities of the Virgin of San Lorenzo were moved 25 years ago from the Festivities of San Mateo to a “risky and courageous” bet of the government team of León de la Riva.
In line with these words, Carnero referred to the “controversy” that generated at the time the “courageous and risky” decision of León de la Riva in relation to the popular festivals, which allowed an improvement of the city from the point of view of this celebration, reports Ep.
The career of León de la Riva
In 1987 he ran in the regional elections of Valladolid and was lawyer at the Courts of Castilla y León for three terms, the first making the seat compatible with the Ministry of Culture and Social Protection in Aznar’s government and in the third with the position of spokesperson for the Popular Parliamentary Group.
In 1991 he ran in the municipal elections of Valladolid. winning mayor and socialist candidate Tomás Rodríguez Bolaños, who retained the mayor’s office with the support of IU and CDS.
He reiterated his candidacy for the six following the municipal elections winning all five of them, five with an absolute majority, against Tomás Rodríguez Bolaños, Ángel Velasco, Soraya Rodríguez and Óscar Puente.
He was a member of the Executive Commission of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) for three terms and chaired the International Relations Commission. He was also vice president and president of the Ibero-American Organization for Intercommunal Cooperation (OICI), Ical reports.
León de la Riva is in possession of the Grand Cross of Military Merit, the Gold Medal of the Spanish Judo Federation and the Silver Medal of the Royal Spanish Bullfighting Federationamong other decorations.
Legacy
During his 20 years as mayor of Valladolid, he decided to change the date of celebration of the Fair and the Feast of San Mateo to the Virgin of San Lorenzo, launched the Day Fair and the National Pinchos and Tapas Competition, and opted for the bullfighting festival at the Paseo de Zorrilla bullring.
Among the urban improvements he brought to the city, it is worth mentioning the project “Rivers of Light”, Award for the best international urban lighting project, known in municipal politics as “Nobel Prize for Urban Lighting”, being the first and only Spanish city to have obtained it, ratified by popular vote as the most awarded project of the last ten years.
Among the initiatives promoted by León de la Riva in Valladolid, it is worth highlighting: Ecological gardens for retirees which started with 150 orchards and currently has 450, as reported by the City Hall in a press release.
