Local elections was held in Zamboanga City on May 14, 2007, within the Philippine general election. The voters elected for the elective local posts in the city: the mayor, vice mayor, and eight councilors per district. Previously, the city voters elected 12 councilors and one representative from its lone district.
Since 1984, Zamboanga City is represented in the national Congress by one representative. All things changed in 2004 when the lone district was divided into 2 districts by virtue of Republic Act No. 9269[1] on March 19, 2004. Veterans Avenue is the dividing line of the two districts.
Monsignor Crisanto dela Cruz formed a coalition named Nuevo Zamboanga under the banner of Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to run against the incumbent administrator of Mayor Celso Lobregat of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino. Lobregat picked incumbent Councilor Milabel Velasquez as his running mate while dela Cruz picked activist Atty. Victor Solis as his running mate.
The candidates for district representative, mayor, and vice mayor with the most votes wins the seat; they are voted separately, therefore, they may be of different parties when elected.
District I City Election Officer Roel Bengua, also chairman of the City Board of Canvassers, proclaimed Mayor Celso Lobregat retaining his post, incumbent Councilor Mannix Dalipe as Vice-Mayor, incumbent Vice-Mayor Beng Climaco as District I Representative, Congressman Erbie Fabian as District II Representative, and the 16 City Councilors.[2]
Incumbent Vice-Mayor Beng Climaco is running for District I Representative. Councilor Mila Velasquez was Mayor Lobregat's running-mate against Monsi dela Cruz' candidate, Atty. Vic Solis.
Each of Zamboanga City's two legislative districts elects eight councilors to the City Council. The eight candidates with the most votes wins the seats per district.
