VZCZCXYZ0002
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHME #6972/01 3492316
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 152316Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4619

UNCLAS MEXICO 006972 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KSUMPHUM PREL MX OAS
SUBJECT: POST'S NOMINEES AS OAS DEMOCRACY PRACTITIONERS 
 
REF: SECSTATE 195953 
 
¶1.  Per reftel, post would like to nominate the following 
persons for selection as "OAS Democracy Practitioners." 
 
¶2.  Name:  Jose WOLDENBERG Karakowsky 
 
Bio:  Woldenberg, 54, holds a Bachelor's degree in sociology, 
a Master's degree in Latin American studies, and a Doctorate 
in political science, all from the National Autonomous 
University of Mexico (UNAM), where he now teaches political 
science.  A leading political analyst and public 
intellectual, he is the publisher of a monthly journal of 
politics and literary and cultural criticism called Nexos, 
and is the author of several books, as well as the producer 
of a series of documentary television programs on Mexico's 
democratic transition.  He is most famous, however, for his 
highly successful tenure as head of Mexico's Federal 
Electoral Institute (IFE). 
 
Justification:  Woldenberg is considered Mexico's foremost 
expert on electoral reform and an absolutely seminal figure 
in Mexico's democratic transition.  As IFE's head during the 
run-up to the historic 2000 presidential election, Woldenberg 
implemented major reforms to the electoral process and 
machinery that enabled Mexico to conduct what was widely 
considered to be the first truly transparent and fair federal 
election in the country's history.  The reforms he 
implemented led to IFE's emergence as one of the most 
respected electoral organizations in the Americas, and one of 
the most trusted of all GOM agencies.  Although he began his 
career on the political left and has since migrated to the 
center, he is universally respected across the political 
spectrum and also enjoys an international reputation.  We 
believe there are few people in the hemisphere who could 
advise on issues relating to electoral reform and 
transparency with as much credibility and technical expertise 
as Jose Woldenberg. 
 
Contact info:  Telephone:  from the U.S.   (52) 55-5553-1374 
or 5211-5886 
 
¶3.  Name:  Jesus MESTA Delgado 
 
Bio:  Mesta has worked in the private sector as well as in 
municipal, state and federal government positions.  He was 
the Undersecretary for Public Administration in the 
Secretariat of Public Administration, a cabinet-level agency 
 
SIPDIS 
created by former President Vicente Fox.  Previously, he 
served as Finance Secretary for the State of Chihuahua 
(1996-98) and has also served in the Chihuahua municipal 
government.  In the private sector, Mesta held key managerial 
positions in a large industrial enterprise.  He has an 
undergraduate degree in public accounting from the Monterrey 
Institute of Technology and Higher Studies (ITESM) and a 
graduate degree in business administration from the 
Pan-American Institute for Business Administration (IPADE). 
 
Justification: Mesta was one of the leading federal officials 
overseeing the adoption and implementation of reforms 
introduced under President Fox's good governance agenda.  The 
goal of this agenda was to apply successful performance 
management strategies and international best practices to 
government administration, with the goal of achieving: cost 
savings; higher quality government services; digital 
government services; regulatory reform; and transparency. 
His experience -- and success -- in this area would make him 
a valuable advisor on government reform and transparency. 
 
Contact info: Telephone:  from the U.S.   (52) 55-1295-7445 
 
¶4.  Name: David COLMENARES Paramo 
 
Bio: Colmenares was until recently the Director of the Office 
of Coordination with Federative Entities (states) within the 
Secretariat of Finance; previously he served as the Secretary 
 
SIPDIS 
of Finance of the State of Oaxaca (1986-92).  He was the 
national coordinator of an organization for government 
finance officers and is a past president of Mexico's national 
association for economists.  He was also Director for 
Administration and Finance of the parastatal LICONSA, which 
distributes subsidized milk to the poor.  He has taught 
finance and public administration at UNAM, has written 
numerous op-ed pieces, and has participated in conferences in 
Mexico and abroad. 
 
Justification:  Mexico's fiscal system is built on clearly 
defined areas of responsibility and competence among all 
levels of government, with the national government 
responsible for collection and redistribution of tax and 
petroleum revenues.  As head of the GOM office responsible 
for promoting and managing fiscal federalism, Colmenares 
brought a strong practical understanding of state needs to 
this forum.  He promoted increased transparency and 
accountability for government resources throughout his 
tenure.  He would be an outstanding advisor/consultant on 
issues of fiscal federalism and reform. 
 
Contact info:  Telephone:  from the U.S.   (52) 55-3955-6686 
 
¶5.  Name: Enrique OCHOA Reza 
 
Bio:  Ochoa received a bachelor's degree in economics from 
the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico (ITAM); a 
degree in law from UNAM; and a master's degree in political 
science and political philosophy from Columbia University, 
where he is also a doctoral candidate in political science. 
He is currently a law professor at UNAM, specializing in 
constitutional law.  He is also contributing writer for the 
leading newspaper Reforma, and Foreign Affairs magazine in 
Spanish, among other publications. 
 
Justification:  Mr. Ochoa is a founder of the National 
Network of Oral Trials and Due Process, which includes 66 
Mexican organizations, and in May 2006 he was the principal 
organizer for an international forum on oral trials.  In late 
2006, he worked on the drafting an initiative for the Mexican 
Congress to implement oral trials at the national level.  He 
has also served on an IFE District Electoral Council; he was 
an advisor at the Secretariat of Energy; and he is a member 
of Mexico Pr ctica, a group that promotes justice reform.  He 
would be an outstanding advisor on judicial reform, 
particularly on the introduction of oral trials in legal 
systems previously based on written proceedings. 
 
Contact info:  Telephone from the U.S.:   (52) 55-3187-0543. 
 
¶6.  Name: Juan Carlos MURILLO 
 
Bio: Murillo headed the Office of Government Innovation in 
the Fox administration.  He previously was the Executive 
Advisor in the Government Development Office of the State of 
Guanajuato, where he coordinated projects intended to improve 
the quality of government services.  He has a Bachelor's 
degree in industrial and systems engineering and a Masters in 
administration and finance, both from ITESM.  He has taught 
classes at ITESM in political economy, statistics and 
international finance.  He has participated in numerous 
conferences in Mexico and abroad on public sector reform and 
administration, total quality management, and organizational 
leadership. 
 
Justification: As head of the Office of Government Innovation 
within the Office of the Presidency, Murillo played a key 
role in turning policy goals and concepts into concrete 
practices and institutions.  Under his leadership, many parts 
of the GOM have been strengthened.  This has strengthened 
Mexican democracy by helping to promote a culture of 
transparency, accountability and citizen involvement. 
Murillo is highly qualified to advise on issues of government 
reform, accountability and citizen participation. 
 
Contact Info:  Telephone:  from the U.S.   (52) 55-5202-7459 
 
 
Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity 
BASSETT