Tom finds Dodong Gullas a formidable opponent

Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday said former Cebu first district Rep. Jose "Dodong" Gullas would be a formidable opponent in the upcoming May election. "Dodong Gullas makes a formidable candidate. But my strongest opponent and the way I look at it is The Freeman and Sun Star - that's a very powerful combination."

While he welcomes the possible entry of Gullas, the executive vice president of the University of the Visayas, into the city politics, Osmeña reminded the former that running the city is entirely different from running a school.

"Don't think that running a university is different from running city hall, maybe he can or maybe he can't. You have to bring foreign investors, foreign-assisted projects, deal with the militants in the streets, deal with people who are corrupt, deal with the calamities. The traffic in UV is different from the traffic in the entire city," Osmeña said.

The mayor, however, admitted that many people don't like him because of his strict, firm and decisive management style compared to Gullas, who is known to be a "nice guy." "Maybe a city needs a nice guy but being nice is not a formula of getting things done because people will take advantage of you."

Osmeña stressed that what is important in the election is to give in to the best interest of the city, not as to who is fighting for the position.

"Who cares of Gullas and Osmeña. The people should not look at it on the standpoint as it all depends on what is needed of the city. I fight because of the city and if things settle down and that's the time we need a nice guy," Osmeña said.

Gullas has been touted as the possible opponent of Osmeña in the next election. Should he decide to run, it would be one of the most tightly fought mayoralty races in the city's history.

But Gullas did not deny nor confirm his political plans, saying only that he would make an announcement next month.

In a radio interview yesterday morning, Gullas, the chairman of the board of The Freeman, narrated his achievements during his stint in Congress, and his style of managing one of the biggest universities in the country.

Reports have it that former mayor Alvin Garcia's son, Raymund, is interested to be Gullas' runningmate should the former congressman decide to run for mayor. - Garry B. Lao