Eluide Miller defeats Allan Pollard to win PUP Belize City mayoral nomination; ‘El Toxico’ leads all candidates in voting with 564 votes

By Breaking Belize News Staff: Deputy Mayor Eluide Miller has won the People’s United Party’s Belize City mayoral convention, defeating fellow City Councillor Allan Pollard Jr. in a closely watched internal contest to lead the party into the 2027 municipal elections.

PUP Chairman Henry Charles Usher announced the results Sunday night following voting at the ITVET compound. All 787 delegates reportedly participated in the convention, with one spoiled ballot leaving 786 valid votes in the mayoral race. Miller received 445 votes, while Pollard received 341.

The result makes Miller the PUP’s mayoral candidate to succeed his father-in-law, outgoing Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner, who is not seeking another term. Miller currently serves as Deputy Mayor and was unanimously re-elected to that position by the City Council earlier this year.

The convention also determined the PUP’s ten councillor candidates from a field of 19 aspirants. Social media personality Kristian “El Toxico” Alpuche, a newcomer to electoral politics, topped the councillor poll with 564 votes. The successful slate also includes a mixture of incumbent councillors and newcomers who will campaign alongside Miller.

Following his victory, Miller thanked the delegates and described the campaign as an exhausting but rewarding several weeks. He rejected suggestions that his candidacy was based on entitlement and said he had asked delegates to decide who they trusted to lead Belize City.

Miller also extended an olive branch to Pollard, saying politics should never become personal.

“There is absolutely no contention between Allan Pollard and I,” Miller said, adding that he looks forward to working “side by side” with Pollard to complete the current council’s term and prepare for the municipal election.

The mayoral contest had attracted significant attention in recent months, with Pollard, a three-term councillor and former Deputy Mayor, facing Miller, who entered City Hall as an intern in 2019 before becoming an employee, councillor and eventually Deputy Mayor.

Miller said the new slate combines youthful leadership and new ideas with experience and maturity, while urging unsuccessful candidates and current councillors who did not make the slate to remain involved.

The PUP will now turn its attention to the March 3, 2027 municipal election, where it will seek to retain control of Belize City Hall.

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