Puerto Rico eyes fourth governor

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- A day after Puerto Rico got its third governor in less than a week following angry street protests, top officials from new leader Wanda Vazquez's own party were talking openly Thursday about their desire to see a fourth take over the position.

Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, who played a key role in the successful court challenge to the swearing-in of Pedro Pierluisi after Gov. Ricardo Rossello resigned, publicly backed Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez -- Puerto Rico's representative to the U.S. Congress -- to become governor. Party allies appeared to fall in line.

"The leadership ... basically agrees that Jenniffer should be the governor," said Jose Melendez of the New Progressive Party. "It is a matter that must be treated bit by bit because we do not know what is in the mind of Wanda Vazquez."

But "Jenniffer is the consensus person," he added. "This should happen quickly, but it depends on what the governor says. ... The key to breaking the bottleneck lies with Wanda Vazquez."

For Gonzalez to become governor, she would have to be nominated to the open secretary of state position and confirmed. Then Vazquez would have to resign, though the new governor said she did not intend to step down despite previous comments that she didn't want the job.

Rivera Schatz held a closed-door meeting with senators, legislators and Gonzalez on Thursday morning.

"We truly don't know what's going to happen," said Mayor Francisco Lopez of the central mountain town of Barranquitas, who expressed support for Gonzalez.

"We will discuss pros and cons," said Rep. Maria de Lourdes Ramos, who said she does not necessarily share the Senate president's views on Gonzalez. "Right now what's best for us is unity."

Gonzalez said the presidents of the House and Senate called her last weekend asking if she was available to become secretary of state as a candidate of consensus, and she agreed if it would help restore credibility and stability to Puerto Rico.

"There must be fundamental changes in the entire structure of government, in all cabinet officials and in all contracts that the government of Puerto Rico has," Gonzalez said, adding she would meet with Vazquez later Thursday. "It's time that people and not politicians become the priority."

Gonzalez also warned the U.S. government has doubts about how the island is handling federal funds: "The specter of corruption has called into question access to those funds. ... They don't trust Puerto Rico's institutions or its officials."