A lawyer by training and with a political career that began in his teens, Kenedy Wállafy takes over as mayor of Pompéu, Minas Gerais, with a clear purpose: to implement structural public policies that will have a lasting impact on the city.
“I decided to enter politics with the purpose of contributing to society. Most politicians think of projects that yield immediate results, but I have always thought of creating public policies with a long-term impact, so that the city can reap the rewards in 10 or 20 years,” he said.
With a strong involvement in the student movement, Kenedy was president of the school's student union and, at the age of 18, was elected city councilor. His experience in the Legislative Branch strengthened his vision of the importance of efficient public management, leading him to run for and win the election for mayor in 2024.
“What I realized was an opportunity to do much more in the Executive than I did in the Legislative. As mayor, I can implement projects that really change people’s lives on a daily basis,” Kenedy reaffirmed.
Education and public management as priorities
Public education is a priority for Kenedy's administration. With experience in the area, he served as director of basic, professional and higher education at the Municipal Department of Education, and believes that investing in the education of children and young people is essential for the future of the city.
“I believe that it is through education that we will build a better country. We need to invest in young people, in children, in basic education,” he stressed.
In addition to education, the administration faces some urgent challenges: the municipality has a fiscal problem, with the payroll above the prudential limit of 51%, which restricts investments. School transportation is also critical, with only 12 of the 22 buses working, affecting students in rural areas. In health, the spread of dengue fever is a concern and requires emergency measures to reinforce medical care and contain the disease.
“In the first 100 days, our priority will be to balance the accounts, restore the bus fleet and strengthen the health system to combat dengue fever. In addition, we are finalizing a selection process for secretaries, ensuring technical and efficient management,” he explained.
Management close to the population
Since the beginning of his political career, Kenedy has always sought direct contact with the population. As a councilman, he created the project “My Office is the Street”, making biweekly visits to neighborhoods, health units and schools to listen to the demands of residents and present solutions in the plenary session of the City Council.
“I made surprise visits to the Family Health Program (PSF), schools and daycare centers, talked to the population and took their demands to the plenary of the Chamber. This proximity is essential for a transparent and participatory policy,” he recalled.
Furthermore, his work as rapporteur for the Education Committee enabled the approval of one of the most significant projects for the city's educational management: the end of political appointments for school principals. Now, the selection of municipal school principals is done democratically, with technical criteria and community participation.
“Now, political appointment has given way to democratic management, ensuring that directors are chosen based on merit and community participation,” he said.
Kenedy was also responsible for citizenship initiatives and access to legal information for students. As president of the Law in Schools Committee, he led a project in which lawyers and law students offered classes on legal concepts to elementary school students in public schools.
