Opposition Keeps Governor Post In Mexico

Mexico’s first opposition state government on Monday retained control of Baja California, bruising the ruling party and setting the stage for a strong opposition run for the presidency in 2000.

In Baja California’s state election Sunday, the conservative National Action Party, or PAN, retained the governorship for another six-year term.

With 74.5 percent of ballots counted Monday, PAN candidate Hector Teran Teran led with 248,292 votes. Former Mexicali mayor Francisco Perez Tejada, of Mexico’s ruling party, had 204,245 votes. Smaller parties got the rest.