Justo en las faldas de la sierra madre, en una casa humilde, vive enferma y sola, Doña Catalina Rodríguez Moreno, Presidenta municipal de Miquihuana en el trienio 1978-1980 y una de las primeras mujeres, que en la historia de Tamaulipas, logró ocupar una alcaldía.

A escasos metros del manantial Ojo de Agua,  la ex alcaldesa recuerda cómo llegó a la silla de la presidencia municipal y las dificultades que tuvo que enfrentar durante su gestión, en una época, en la que imperaba el machismo; la participación política y los cargos públicos estaban, casi vedados, para las mujeres.

En el  proceso electoral de 1977, el candidato del PRI a la presidencia municipal de Miquihuana fue Cleofas Chávez.

“Debido de los problemas internos entre los grupos políticos del PRI,  el candidato Cleofas Chávez firmó su derrota. Fue entonces cuando llegó desde la capital del estado, la orden del entonces Gobernador Enrique Cárdenas González para que sortearan la alcaldía entre dos mujeres.

“La presidencia municipal se sorteó entre Marisela Rodríguez y yo y gané”, recuerda Doña Catalina, quien nació el 30 de abril de 1932 y estudió sólo hasta el sexto año de primaria en la Escuela Ignacio Zaragoza. Su padre, a pesar de la insistencia de los maestros, no la dejó  que saliera a estudiar a otro municipio.

A sus 78 años de edad y acompañada sólo por su fiel perro pastor alemán, la ex presidenta municipal de Miquihuana revela las dificultades que tuvo con el cabildo durante el trienio que gobernó.

“Fue muy complicado trabajar porque los regidores y síndicos eran del grupo político que perdió la elección y estaban enojados; ellos casi todos eran hombres, pero yo no me dejaba, yo tenía el apoyo de mucha gente y como quiera trabajé”, comenta sonriente.

Es descendiente de dos ex presidentes municipales de Miquihuana: Su abuelo Don Macedonio Rodríguez y su padre del mismo nombre. Así que ella formaba parte de un grupo político fuerte en la región.

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Pero lidiar con sus adversarios políticos, no fue el único problema que tuvo que enfrentar como alcaldesa de uno de los municipios más pobres de Tamaulipas.

 “El presupuesto era muy poquito, había mucha pobreza y en ese tiempo no había la ayuda que llega ahora”, recuerda la ex alcaldesa.

El presupuesto anual del municipio era apenas de 300 mil pesos y con esos recursos, durante su trienio se construyeron varios puentes (uno de ellos en la salida del panteón) y se terminó de instalar la línea de conducción del manantial Gaspar, que desde entonces abastece del vital líquido a la población de la cabecera municipal.

Durante ese trienio, el entonces Gobernador Enrique Cárdenas González  visitó Miquihuana  para inaugurar la puesta en operación del servicio de agua, mientras que el diputado Raúl Uvalle también llegó a visitar  esa comunidad semi desértica,  para poner en operación el auditorio municipal.

Hoy en día, Doña Catalina, vive retirada de toda actividad política.  Su experiencia como alcaldesa, le dejó “un mal sabor de boca”, por  toda la “grilla” y el golpeteo de sus adversarios políticos. Después de la presidencia municipal, ya sólo participó como militante del PRI.

En su casa, Doña Catalina vive sola y enferma. Apenas puede caminar, padece mala circulación y presión arterial. La última vez que visitó un doctor, fue hace más de 4 años cuando todavía vivía su esposo, Don Crescencio Cardona.

Sobrevive hoy en día, con mil 800 pesos bimestrales, que le otorgan como beneficiaria de los programas 70 y más y el de Oportunidades.