POST'S NOMINEES AS OAS DEMOCRACY PRACTITIONERS

UNCLAS MEXICO 006972 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KSUMPHUM PREL MX OAS SUBJECT: POST'S NOMINEES AS OAS DEMOCRACY PRACTITIONERS REF: SECSTATE 195953 ¶1. Per reftel, post would like to nominate the following persons for selection as "OAS Democracy Practitioners." ¶2. Name: Jose WOLDENBERG Karakowsky Bio: Woldenberg, 54, holds a Bachelor's degree in sociology, a Master's degree in Latin American studies, and a Doctorate in political science, all from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM),where he now teaches political science. A leading political analyst and public intellectual, he is the publisher of a monthly journal of politics and literary and cultural criticism called Nexos, and is the author of several books, as well as the producer of a series of documentary television programs on Mexico's democratic transition. He is most famous, however, for his highly successful tenure as head of Mexico's Federal Electoral Institute (IFE). Justification: Woldenberg is considered Mexico's foremost expert on electoral reform and an absolutely seminal figure in Mexico's democratic transition. As IFE's head during the run-up to the historic 2000 presidential election, Woldenberg implemented major reforms to the electoral process and machinery that enabled Mexico to conduct what was widely considered to be the first truly transparent and fair federal election in the country's history. The reforms he implemented led to IFE's emergence as one of the most respected electoral organizations in the Americas, and one of the most trusted of all GOM agencies. Although he began his career on the political left and has since migrated to the center, he is universally respected across the political spectrum and also enjoys an international reputation. We believe there are few people in the hemisphere who could advise on issues relating to electoral reform and transparency with as much credibility and technical expertise as Jose Woldenberg. Contact info: Telephone: from the U.S. (52) 55-5553-1374 or 5211-5886 ¶3. Name: Jesus MESTA Delgado Bio: Mesta has worked in the private sector as well as in municipal, state and federal government positions. He was the Undersecretary for Public Administration in the Secretariat of Public Administration, a cabinet-level agency SIPDIS created by former President Vicente Fox. Previously, he served as Finance Secretary for the State of Chihuahua (1996-98) and has also served in the Chihuahua municipal government. In the private sector, Mesta held key managerial positions in a large industrial enterprise. He has an undergraduate degree in public accounting from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Studies (ITESM) and a graduate degree in business administration from the Pan-American Institute for Business Administration (IPADE). Justification: Mesta was one of the leading federal officials overseeing the adoption and implementation of reforms introduced under President Fox's good governance agenda. The goal of this agenda was to apply successful performance management strategies and international best practices to government administration, with the goal of achieving: cost savings; higher quality government services; digital government services; regulatory reform; and transparency. His experience -- and success -- in this area would make him a valuable advisor on government reform and transparency. Contact info: Telephone: from the U.S. (52) 55-1295-7445 ¶4. Name: David COLMENARES Paramo Bio: Colmenares was until recently the Director of the Office of Coordination with Federative Entities (states) within the Secretariat of Finance; previously he served as the Secretary SIPDIS of Finance of the State of Oaxaca (1986-92). He was the national coordinator of an organization for government finance officers and is a past president of Mexico's national association for economists. He was also Director for Administration and Finance of the parastatal LICONSA, which distributes subsidized milk to the poor. He has taught finance and public administration at UNAM, has written numerous op-ed pieces, and has participated in conferences in Mexico and abroad. Justification: Mexico's fiscal system is built on clearly defined areas of responsibility and competence among all levels of government, with the national government responsible for collection and redistribution of tax and petroleum revenues. As head of the GOM office responsible for promoting and managing fiscal federalism, Colmenares brought a strong practical understanding of state needs to this forum. He promoted increased transparency and accountability for government resources throughout his tenure. He would be an outstanding advisor/consultant on issues of fiscal federalism and reform. Contact info: Telephone: from the U.S. (52) 55-3955-6686 ¶5. Name: Enrique OCHOA Reza Bio: Ochoa received a bachelor's degree in economics from the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico (ITAM); a degree in law from UNAM; and a master's degree in political science and political philosophy from Columbia University, where he is also a doctoral candidate in political science. He is currently a law professor at UNAM, specializing in constitutional law. He is also contributing writer for the leading newspaper Reforma, and Foreign Affairs magazine in Spanish, among other publications. Justification: Mr. Ochoa is a founder of the National Network of Oral Trials and Due Process, which includes 66 Mexican organizations, and in May 2006 he was the principal organizer for an international forum on oral trials. In late 2006, he worked on the drafting an initiative for the Mexican Congress to implement oral trials at the national level. He has also served on an IFE District Electoral Council; he was an advisor at the Secretariat of Energy; and he is a member of Mexico Pr ctica, a group that promotes justice reform. He would be an outstanding advisor on judicial reform, particularly on the introduction of oral trials in legal systems previously based on written proceedings. Contact info: Telephone from the U.S.: (52) 55-3187-0543. ¶6. Name: Juan Carlos MURILLO Bio: Murillo headed the Office of Government Innovation in the Fox administration. He previously was the Executive Advisor in the Government Development Office of the State of Guanajuato, where he coordinated projects intended to improve the quality of government services. He has a Bachelor's degree in industrial and systems engineering and a Masters in administration and finance, both from ITESM. He has taught classes at ITESM in political economy, statistics and international finance. He has participated in numerous conferences in Mexico and abroad on public sector reform and administration, total quality management, and organizational leadership. Justification: As head of the Office of Government Innovation within the Office of the Presidency, Murillo played a key role in turning policy goals and concepts into concrete practices and institutions. Under his leadership, many parts of the GOM have been strengthened. This has strengthened Mexican democracy by helping to promote a culture of transparency, accountability and citizen involvement. Murillo is highly qualified to advise on issues of government reform, accountability and citizen participation. Contact Info: Telephone: from the U.S. (52) 55-5202-7459 Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity BASSETT