Rankin plans independent run in Newlands
Mario Rankin
(CNS Elections): A former chairman of the United Democratic Party’s Bodden Town district branch, Mario Rankin has announced his intention to contest the seat of Newlands in the May General Election. However, the local businessman appears to be running as an independent and not with the Cayman Democratic Party (the renamed UDP), headed by McKeeva Bush. Rankin’s candidacy was revealed this weekend on Facebook and the political hopeful is launching his campaign on Saturday. Rankin’s guest speakers include Chris Saunders, who plans to run in the neighboring constituency of Bodden Town West in a loose alliance with Rankin.
Rankin will launch his “Vision for the Future” at 383 Hurst Road at the junction of the bypass at 6:30pm on 18 March.
Rankin is the third independent candidate to declare his intentions to run in Newlands, which could prove to be a tough race for the candidates when all potential runners are declared on Nomination Day. One of the fastest growing residential areas in Grand Cayman, it has 1,265 registered voters on the most recent list.
Already declared for the district is political newcomer Raul Gonzalez, who is also running as an independent, and incumbent Alva Suckoo, who is running as an independent in an alliance that includes Gilbert McLean, a former health minister in the first UDP administration, who is standing in the Bodden Town West constituency.
Neither the PPM nor the CDP have revealed who will be running on their party tickets in the Newlands district. The CDP leadership may decide not to challenge Rankin and hope that if he won he would be more inclined to support Bush in the event of a mixed result.
In the 2013 elections, ballot results for the polling stations that encompassed both Newlands and Savannah had a strong showing for the PPM.
Anthony Eden collected 772 votes in the area in 2013 but it is not clear if Eden will run in the 2017 election. Having left the Progressives, if he runs he will be doing so as an independent and will prove a difficult candidate to beat. Cabinet ministers Osbourne Bodden, who garnered 688 votes in the area, and Wayne Panton, who picked up 763 votes, both did well in the Savanna-Newlands polling stations, with Suckoo, who ran on the Progressives ticket in 2013, collecting 664.
Category: Candidates
Mario Rankin, who faces 28 charges against his company, Sail Inn, is understood to be making payments and he will return to court in June.
https://caymannewsservice.com/2015/03/building-firm-faces-100-charges-over-pay/
Is this paid?
https://caymannewsservice.com/2015/03/building-firm-faces-100-charges-over-pay/
“Mario Rankin, who faces 28 charges against his company, Sail Inn, is understood to be making payments and he will return to court in June.”
I just want to find out if he paid these people cause I know he stalled them a few times yet driving his fancy car and now running for office.
Like we saw in the US elections the people got tired of protocol and fancy suits. I think cayman feels the same. If however my options look like Mario I’d rather not vote. Some may criticize that but I need to sleep at night and I couldn’t sleep if I knew that I HAD to vote someone like him in. Just sayin…
I’d rather play inside a car compactor
Well Mario old boy, looks like you have some climbing to do in this ya poll. Your boy Saunders and Mr Johann PIP Moxam have a lot to explain as well! You will join Wayne in the losers gallery come May!
I beg the question, is it a prerequisite that you be both morally and ethically challenged to be an upstanding candidate these days?
Oooh boy….Mario wouldn’t qualify to even bring water for another candidate….
Let’s pray hard that he along with Wayne Panton will not get in.
Nah, let’s just hope & pray he doesn’t get in.
Honestly I would put anyone in before I even think about Mario. Hell I would probably vote for Donald Trump first….okay pushing it a bit…..Think of the worst person and it would be him then Mario
He is the worst. Terrible.
I think Matthew Leslie beats this one!
Is worst or better cause I doubt it gets worse…..but I guess the Devil himself has not declared as yet for office? Is the Devil running in Cayman this year? (PS I mean the actual Devil)
Jonann, Mario and Saunders…Three stooges, what a waste of space on the ballots. These guys would be no good for anyone but themselves.
Don’t forget the Ebanks boy from NS is long wit um too.
Alva Suckoo has my vote, just say NO to Mario
OMG – What has Cayman become? Mario really? Really? NOT A CHANCE IN HELL!!! UDP/CDP Written all over this clown. It’s like putting the devil himself in office. Anyone BUT Mario!!! ANYYYYYYYONE!!!
Well said.
God save us!
Ummm. No.
These comments about McKeeva and former UDP members are geared towards getting POOR PEOPLE MOVEMENT back in office. Please vote carefully!
While I wouldn’t give Mario a vote there are other viable options in Newlands that are not PPM … or UDP! But in the end persons will come together to form the government if no party takes the majority. They will have to work together for the good of the people.
ANY candidate that was once with a party but now claims to be “independent” is fooling no one but themselves. All of these independents that once had party affiliation would suck up to their former party leader if elected ESPECIALLY anyone who aligned with McKeeva Bush. As a voter in BT West, the only person worthy of my vote is Gilbert and I am weary about him too as he once stood with Big McRuler.
“Run to the Hills, run for your Lives”.
What has Cayman come to if Mario is running for Government. SMH, please Cayman stay far away from this one.
Mario is one of the worst bad apples we have in Cayman.
He is Mckeeva times 10 in bad reputation.
Don’t let this ignoramous fool anybody, he only wants a big government salary and the “perks” of a government title.
I thought that was Matthew Leslie except Matthew wears sheeps clothing.
The man sold his soul at the altar of greed long ago. Once you stand with the likes of McKeeva it shows what you are.
Hell no
No thank you. Just another egotistical candidate looking for a handsome salary and status in society as an “honourable”.
Sorry being a member of the UDP makes you spoiled goods.
Yep. Like Saunders another McKeevarite in disguise. A lot of his clan will be running as independents trying to fool the people and once elected will go back to the UDP under The Gambler.
And Guess who is speaking at his campaign launch ? Chris Saunders and Johan Moxam – birds of a feather!!!