BAJA CALIF. GOVERNOR GIVES BIRTH

Ávila, who had a boy, first to have baby while in office

MEXICALI, Baja California

Baja California Gov. Marina del Pilar Ávila gave birth Friday night at a hospital in Brawley to her second child, her press office announced Saturday.

“We are already home with the new member of the family, Diego José Torres Ávila,” the governor tweeted Saturday, along with a photograph next to her husband, former congressman Carlos Torres, and her newborn. “Thank you all so much for your good vibes and congratulations,” she added.

Leaders from both sides of the border sent congratulatory messages through social media, including San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Tijuana Mayor Montserrat Caballero and Mexico’s Secretary of Economy Tatiana Clouthier.

Ávila continued with her work throughout her pregnancy. Even on Friday, hours before she gave birth, she held a tourism promotion event in Mexicali.

During a news conference late last month, she said she did not plan to be absent from office after giving birth, and she would continue her duties via home office.

In case of temporary absence, the secretary general of government, in this case, Catalino Zavala, would be in charge, according to state law. That law says that a governor may be away from the territory or separated from his functions for up to 30 days.

On Sunday, Zavala headed an event in Mexicali on behalf of Ávila for Baja California’s 70th anniversary.

Last November, Ávila, 36, became the first female governor of Baja California, and the youngest person to assume that position. Now she is the first to give birth while in office.

“These are the signs of the new times; this had never happened before because we had never had a female governor,” said Victor Espinoza, researcher at the Department of Public Administration Studies at the Colegio de la Frontera Norte (Colef).

Ávila has been married for more than two years to Torres; this is their first child together.

The governor’s son is eligible for dual citizenship. Mexican law establishes that those born abroad to Mexican parents are Mexicans by birth, and he is a U.S. citizen since he was born in the U.S.

Last December, Ávila announced during one of her weekly news conferences that she would give birth in California, since her daughter, Marina, 8, was also born in the U.S., at the same Brawley hospital, before she was governor.

Brawley is in Imperial County, about 30 miles from Mexicali, Baja California, where the governor lives.

The decision to have her child in the U.S. instead of Mexico drew some criticism on social media.

It is common practice for some parents in the border region to choose to have their children on the other side of the border, noted Espinoza.