Herty Lewites facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Herty Lewites
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Lewites in 2005
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| Mayor of Managua | |
| In office 2001–2005 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 December 1939 Jinotepe, Nicaragua |
| Died | July 2, 2006 (aged 66) Managua, Nicaragua |
| Citizenship | Nicaragua |
Herty Lewites Rodríguez (born December 24, 1939 – died July 2, 2006) was an important politician from Nicaragua. He served as the Mayor of Managua, which is the capital city. He was also running to become president in the 2006 election when he sadly passed away.
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Early Life and Political Start
Herty Lewites was born on December 24, 1939, in a neighborhood called San Felipe in Jinotepe, Nicaragua. His father was an immigrant from Poland, and his mother was Nicaraguan.
When Herty was 15, he was deeply affected by the deaths of two friends during a rebellion. This event made him decide to join the fight against the government of Somoza in 1958. He had to leave Nicaragua in 1960.
He traveled to different countries like Brazil, El Salvador, Mexico, and Cuba. In 1969, he joined the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN). Instead of fighting directly, he helped the movement by managing money and secretly moving weapons.
Years in Government and Public Service
During the 1980s, when the Sandinistas were in power, Herty Lewites became the Minister of Tourism. In this role, he helped develop important projects for the country. One of these was the Montelimar Beach resort, built in 1986. He also helped create the Olof Palme Convention Center in Managua.
After leaving his government role, he built a private amusement park called "Hertylandia." He named it after himself! This park is located between Jinotepe and San Marcos.
In 1990, Herty Lewites was elected to the National Assembly of Nicaragua as a member of the FSLN party. Later, he ran for mayor of Managua in 1996. He rejoined the FSLN in 1998 and, with support from the party, won the election to become Mayor of Managua in 2000.
As mayor, Lewites worked to improve the city. He also tried to fight against corruption within the government. Many people in Nicaragua liked him because he stood up against corruption.
He wanted to run for president in the 2006 election. However, he was removed from the FSLN party in 2005. After that, he joined another party called the Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS Party) and became their presidential candidate.
Passing Away
Herty Lewites passed away suddenly on July 2, 2006, in Managua. He was 66 years old. This happened just four months before the national elections.
His death was a big event in Nicaraguan politics. Many people attended his burial in his hometown of Jinotepe. It is estimated that over 20,000 people came to pay their respects.
His tomb has a Star of David and a Christian cross. An important quote is written on it: "I was born under one dictatorship and I don't want to die under another." This shows his strong belief in freedom and democracy.
See also
In Spanish: Herty Lewites para niños
