**Candidates for Leading the Missing Persons Commission in Baja California**
The search for a new head of the Missing Persons Commission in Baja California is underway as five candidates vie for the position that has been unoccupied for over a year. The contenders for this crucial role are Gustavo Adolfo Meza Kennedy, Jorge Alberto Aguirre Carbajal, Miguel Alejandro Cabrera Medina, Teresa Ávila López, and Gustavo Salai Peña Ortiz.
Since 2006, nearly 15,000 individuals have gone missing in Baja California, highlighting a pressing need for effective leadership within the commission. This organization has faced challenges, including friction among search collectives and a lack of continuity in leadership since Rafael Hernández Murrieta stepped down in September 2023 after an 11-month tenure. Currently, the commission is running under interim management.
Activists report that more than 14,000 people are still missing, putting the onus on the new commissioner to provide effective leadership in a tough environment. The commission, established in April 2018 and operational from February 2019, faces exacerbated issues due to project discontinuities.
In light of current needs, candidates propose expanding personnel and strengthening links with forensic professionals. Among the candidates, Teresa Ávila López, the sole female contender, emphasizes a gender-sensitive approach involving the Alba protocol aimed at searching and rescuing missing women and girls. Meanwhile, Gustavo Salai Peña Ortiz, a psychologist with ample experience working with migrants, recommends leveraging technology for faster report processing and response.
Despite some criticism of the selection process, which some activists claim did not allow for enough direct involvement of search collectives, the process remains in motion. Upon concluding the interviews, the General Government Secretariat will recommend three top candidates to the governor, who will make a final selection for confirmation by the state congress.
**Secondary Article: Rising Challenges for Missing Persons in Baja California**
As the search for a new commission leader progresses, challenges in addressing the crisis of missing persons persist. Activists express concern over the organizational inefficiencies due to frequent leadership changes. The demand for skilled professionals, comprehensive data analysis, and a multifaceted strategy is more acute than ever.
Since potential candidates for the commission have suggested various improvements, the state has seen calls for better resources, including hiring more staff and forensics experts. The new law on Missing Persons in Baja California, enacted earlier this year, pushes for overdue policy changes aimed at resolving these pressing issues.
Simultaneously, community efforts continue gaining momentum, as organizations push for initiatives like creating local search cells and installing walls for displaying photographs of the missing, keeping the public awareness and pressure for solutions very much alive.
The upcoming announcement, expected mid-October, regarding who will lead the commission, could signal a turning point in addressing the state’s ongoing crisis of missing individuals. However, the selected candidate will face immediate challenges in balancing expectations of diverse stakeholders while attempting to implement sustainable search strategies.