Guillermo Padrés Elías

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Padrés and the second or maternal family name is Elías.

Guillermo Padrés Elías (born 29 June 1969) is a Mexican politician and a member of the National Action Party (PAN). He served as Governor of Sonora from 2009 to 2015.

Guillermo Padrés Elías
Governor of Sonora
In office 13 September 2009 – 12 September 2015
Preceded by	Eduardo Bours
Succeeded by	Claudia Pavlovich Arellano
Member of the Senate for Sonora
In office 28 August 2006 – 1 September 2009
Member of the Chamber of Deputies for Sonora's 2nd district
In office 28 August 2000 – 31 August 2003
Preceded by	Héctor Mayer Soto
Succeeded by	Fermín Trujillo Fuentes
Member of the Congress of Sonora from the 7th district
In office 16 September 1997 – 15 September 2000
Preceded by	Alonso Márquez Félix
Succeeded by	Francisco García Gámez
Personal details
Born	(1969-06-29) 29 June 1969 (age 55) Cananea, Sonora
Political party	National Action Party
Alma mater	Universidad Humanitas

Political career

Padres' political career began in 1997 when he was elected to the Congress of Sonora as State Representative for the 7th electoral district with 61 percent of the vote.^[1][2] In 2000, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies for Sonora's 2nd congressional district for the LVIII Legislature with 50.35 percent of the votes,^[1][3] and served until 2003.

In 2006, he was elected to the Senate representing Sonora. His party received 44 percent of the vote.^[4] As Senator, he served as Chairman of the Agriculture and Livestock Committee, and served on the Justice Committee and Water Resources Committee. ^{[citation needed]}

On 16 January 2008, he announced his intention to run for Governor of Sonora in the 2009 elections.^[5] On 1 March 2009, he won the first day of PAN elections in Sonora, with 2,625 votes against 1,709 for María Dolores del Rio and 477 for Florencio Diaz Armenta. The following day, María Dolores del Rio and Florencio Diaz Armenta withdrew from the race,^[6][7] leaving Padrés as the sole candidate.

Governor of Sonora

In the gubernatorial election of 5 July 2009, Padrés Elías defeated the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) candidate, Alfonso Elías Serrano, with 464,865 votes for Padrés Elías against 425,050 votes for Elías Serrano;^[8] however, the PRI challenged the election results. On 17 August, the State Electoral Tribunal rejected the challenge, and certified the election of Padrés Elías.^[9] The PRI appealed to the Federal Electoral Tribunal, which on 11 September also rejected the challenge.^[10] Padrés Elías served as Governor of Sonora from 2009 to 2015.

Arrest and criminal charges

Padrés Elías was wanted by the Federal Police and Interpol on multiple charges of corruption, embezzlement, and extortion.^[11][12] In total, Padrés transferred US$8.9 million from Mexico to US bank accounts.^[13] Authorities seized 19 properties belonging to Padrés Elías in the municipalities of Arizpe, Cananea, Cajeme and Hermosillo, as well as two properties belonging to his associates.^[14]

After a long man-hunt, Padrés gave himself up to the Federal authorities on 10 November 2016, claiming innocence.^[15][16] He was released on 2 February 2019, to continue the process.^[17]

References

1. Gerardo Moyano (21 September 2009). "Inicia Sonora era panista" (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 February 2010.
2. Consejo Estatal Electoral del Estado de Sonora. "Proceso electoral Sonora 1996-1997. Diputados locales" (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 February 2010.
3. Instituto Federal Electoral. "Elección de Diputados Federales por el principio de mayoría relativa. Estado de Sonora" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 13 January 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
4. Instituto Federal Electoral. "Resultados Elección de Senadores por el principio de mayoría relativa. Estado de Sonora" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 12 September 2008. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
5. ""Con todas mis fuerzas" buscaré ser gobernador de Sonora:Padrès Elìas" (in Spanish). Dossier Político. 16 January 2008. Archived from the original on 17 February 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
6. Marcelo Beyliss (2 March 2009). "Ex alcaldesa de Hermosillo se retira de contienda por candidatura" (in Spanish). El Universal. Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2009.
7. Virginia de Viana (2 March 2009). "Declina Florencio Díaz a precandidatura" (in Spanish). El Imparcial. Archived from the original on 9 June 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
8. Consejo Estatal Electoral del Estado de Sonora. "Elección gobernador, 2009" (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 September 2009.
9. Ulises Gutiérrez Ruelas (17 August 2009). "Valida TEE triunfo del PAN en comicios para gobernador en Sonora" (in Spanish). La Jornada. Archived from the original on 21 August 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
10. Hernández, Susana (11 September 2009). "Ratifica el TEPJF el triunfo de Guillermo Padrés en Sonora" (in Spanish). Milenio Diario. Retrieved 12 September 2009. ^{[dead link]}
11. López, Liliana (16 February 2016). "In political surprise, Sonoran official charged with extortion". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
12. "¿De qué acusan a Padrés, exgobernador de Sonora?". El Universal (in Spanish). 12 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
13. de Córdoba, José (5 March 2015). "Mexico Investigating Opposition Governor of Sonora". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
14. "Aseguran 19 propiedades a Guillermo Padrés en Sonora". El Sol de México (in Spanish). 18 July 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
15. "Encarcelan a Guillermo Padrés y su hijo por presuntos desvíos en Sonora". aristeguinoticias.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 November 2016.
16. "Padrés se declara inocente en audiencia en el Reclusorio Sur". proceso.com.mx (in Spanish). 11 November 2016. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
17. "Guillermo Padrés deja el reclusorio y llevará localizador". Milenio (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 February 2019.

Preceded by Eduardo Bours	Governor of Sonora 2009 – 2015	Succeeded by Claudia Pavlovich Arellano
Preceded by Carlos Villalobos Organista	Senator for Sonora First formula 2006 – 2008	Succeeded by Emma Lucía Larios Gaxiola
Preceded by Héctor Mayer Soto	Federal Deputy for District II in Sonora 2000 – 2003	Succeeded by Fermín Trujillo Fuentes