Man running for mayor killed in Mexico, 16th candidate dead

MEXICO CITY – The mayor of a small town in western Mexico who was running for re-election has been killed, the 16th candidate murdered ahead of the July 1 elections.

The governor of Michoacan state says “we will not rest until we find those responsible for this regrettable act.”

Gov. Silvano Aureoles said Alejandro Chavez Zavala died while being treated for wounds suffered in the shooting attack Thursday. His wife was also wounded.

Chavez Zavala was running for re-election in Taretan for a coalition led by the conservative National Action Party. The party wrote in a Tweet that “we demand justice, rapid investigations and results in the case.”

Those killed have been mostly local candidates for town councils and mayorships. Mexico will also elect the president and nine governors on July 1.