It’s official: Francisco Martins has stepped down as Lagoa’s mayor and been replaced by former deputy mayor Luís Encarnação.
The decision was announced in a communiqué sent to newsrooms on Wednesday (July 31) after the changes were approved in a council meeting.
It was also confirmed that councillor Anabela Simão is now Lagoa’s deputy mayor while the spot she left open has been filled by Mário Guerreiro, who was been president of the ESPAMOL school group parent association since 2011.
Luis Encarnação, in his first official statement as mayor, said he will “continue the work that has been developed with the same commitment and dedication to serve the municipality of Lagoa”.
According to local newspaper Lagoa Informa, Martins had to step down “due to health reasons” as he had been “undergoing treatments for health issues for the last 12 months and has been making huge sacrifices” to continue running the local council.
The paper added that “Martins wanted to push on until the end of his mandate but the health problems he faces no longer allow him to remain at the helm of the council.”
He reportedly told his colleagues that he “wanted to leave town hall on his own two feet instead of lying down”.
