Chirikova lacks managerial skills to run for Khimki mayor - Mitvol
MOSCOW. Aug 20 (Interfax) - Oleg Mitvol, ex-deputy head of the federal natural resources and environmental oversight service Rosprirodnadzor and former prefect of Moscow's Northern Administrative District, remains undecided on whether he will run for Khimki mayor, but he doubts that opposition candidate Yevgenia Chirikova will be a success, given her little managerial experience.
"I keep thinking whether or not to run and we have yet to discuss this prospect with other members of the Green Alliance - People's Party members. I will announce my decision within days," Mitvol told Interfax.
If Mitvol decides to run he could put the fight against corruption, including in the housing utilities sector, in the center of his election campaign.
"The ex-mayor's long-established corrupt connections must be cut and the ruined housing utilities sector must be restored. Tariffs are higher in Khimki than in Moscow. And the entire system of management must be built anew," he said.
Concerning the candidacy of Yevgenia Chirikova, the head of the Movement to Defend Khimki Forest, Mitvol said she has no managerial experience and will hardly cope.
"Yevgenia is a good speaker, and, compared to the ex-mayor Strelchenko, is a good candidacy. But Khimki has a lot of purely day-to-day problems to tackle, including preparations for the winter season, problems facing the housing utilities sector and others. She has no managerial skills whatsoever. Spare the local residents of yet another experiment," Mitvol said.
Reports said earlier that the Council of Deputies of the local legislature accepted Khimki Mayor Vladimir Strelchenko's resignation and set mayoral elections for October 14.
Chirikova was nominated as candidate for mayor at an opposition meeting.