Javier Fernández Gualda, who has led the Gerena City Council for over ten years, has announced his resignation from office, citing "physical and mental exhaustion." The mayor stated that it is the right time for another person to take over and provide renewed momentum to municipal management. His departure will be formalized in a plenary session at the end of April.
“"Serving as mayor entails enormous responsibility and demands absolute dedication. I no longer have the same strength to fully commit as this job deserves. The most honest thing is to step aside."
In a statement released on social media, Fernández explained the demanding nature of his position and his need to reduce his work pace to spend more time with his family. He assured that the stability of the City Council is guaranteed and that his departure will not affect the normal functioning of the corporation. The outgoing mayor expressed gratitude to municipal workers, his government colleagues, and the people of Gerena for their appreciation and trust.
Fernández was elected councilor in 2007 and became mayor of Gerena in 2015 with a simple majority. He was re-elected in 2019 and 2023, both times with an absolute majority, achieving the highest percentage of votes in the democratic history of the Sevillian town.
The current first deputy mayor, María Tenorio, will be the candidate in the investiture plenary session, scheduled for early May. Tenorio, a Political Science graduate, has been part of the municipal government team since 2015, holding various delegations. The vacant councilor position will be filled by Jesús Núñez, a forestry technician.
The Gerena Municipal Corporation consists of 8 councilors from the PSOE, 4 from Izquierda Unida, and 1 from the Partido Popular, ensuring an absolute socialist majority for María Tenorio's investiture without the need for agreements with other political parties.
