The Mayor of Albox has presented his resignation, saying that he is disillusioned with politics and fed up with it.
José García Navarro (PSOE) made the shock announcement today at midday, and the resignation is to take effect with immediate effect.
José has said he will return to his previous job as a teacher, “something truely important which I love” he said.

His administration has been marked by his failure to legalise thousands of illegal homes in his town, and the financial bankruptcy of his townhall, whilst he personally has been accused of running up vast expenses on his official credit card. It appears that townhall workers have only now been paid for December, and that the January salaries are not likely to appear for a while. The townhall is believed to owe the banks 200,000€ just on unpaid interest, and it hasn’t settled a social security bill for months.
He published an open letter to the town, which is reproduced below:
Estimados vecinos/as y amigos/as
Me dirijo a vosotros/as para comunicaros que hoy he presentado mi renuncia y dimisión irrevocable como Alcalde.
Los motivos de la misma son mera y estrictamente personales. En política, como en la vida misma, cuando falta y falla la ilusión para seguir impulsando el proyecto de prosperidad y desarrollo de tu pueblo, es mejor, ser honesto y dar un paso atrás, permitiendo que otros/as compañeros/as asuman la responsabilidad y el inmenso honor que yo he tenido, y sigan trabajando con la ilusión y motivación necesarias y de las que yo adolezco en la actualidad.
Ser vuestro alcalde ha sido una de las cosas más bonitas e importantes que me han ocurrido en la vida; ha sido un orgullo y un privilegio personal contar con vuestro respaldo y representaros. No puedo expresaros en estas simples líneas o palabras el inmenso agradecimiento que os tengo a todos/as por haberme permitido vivir esta preciosa y maravillosa experiencia de ser el Alcalde de mi pueblo.
Regreso a mi escuela e inicio una nueva etapa en mi vida, que espero sea tan gratificante y enriquecedora como lo ha sido ser vuestro alcalde durante casi seis años. Seis años donde he trabajado y buscado lo mejor para mi pueblo. Los resultados están ahí, se pueden ver, valorar y disfrutar. Estoy profundamente orgulloso de los logros alcanzados y de los equipamientos, infraestructuras y obras de mejora que durante estos años se han hecho y se siguen realizando en Albox.
Mis queridos/as amigos/as y vecinos/as, tan solo deciros que donde quiera que esté me tendréis siempre a vuestra entera disposición para intentar, en lo que pueda, echaros una mano y ayudaros en todo aquello de que mi dependa. Os reitero mi más sincero agradecimiento, de corazón, por el apoyo y el cariño que me habéis mostrado y demostrado siempre.
Un saludo muy grande y afectuoso de vuestro vecino y amigo Pepe García
And in English (via Google translate, it’s been a long day):
Dear neighbors / friends
I turn to you to announce that today I submitted my resignation and irrevocable resignation as Mayor.
The reasons for that are simple and strictly personal. In politics, as in life itself, in the absence and fails to continue pushing forward the project of prosperity and development of your people, the better, be honest and take a step back, allowing my companions take responsibility and the great honor that I have had, and continue to work with the hope and motivation and I adolezco today.
Being your mayor has been one of the most beautiful and important things that happened to me in life has been an honor and a privilege to have your support staff and represent you. I can not express in these simple lines or words the immense gratitude I have for all for allowing me to live this beautiful and wonderful experience to be the mayor of my town.
Return to my school and beginning a new stage in my life, I hope so rewarding and enriching as it has been to be your mayor for nearly six years. Six years where I worked and wanted the best for my people. The results are there, you can see, appreciate and enjoy. I am deeply proud of the achievements and the facilities, infrastructure and improvement works over the years have been and continue to be made in Albox.
My dear buddies and neighbors, just say that wherever I am I will always have at your disposal to try, as far as you can, lend a hand and help you in everything that my dependent. I reiterate my sincere gratitude of heart for the support and love you have shown me and always shown.
A big hello and loving thy neighbor and friend Pepe Garcia
Pepe appears to have been a popular man from his village who has let it all “get to him”. I hope he can settle back into his routine as a much loved schoolmaster.