Salvador Nava Martínez

Salvador Nava Martínez (April 7, 1914 – May 18, 1992) was a Mexican physician, politician and activist. An ophthalmologist and professor at the Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí in the School of Medicine, he eventually became a leader in the opposition movement in San Luis Potosí and the greater Mexican political arena.

Origin and political exile: 1958-1963 Salvador Nava's political career began in 1958 when he decided to run for mayor of San Luis Potosí under the national Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) banner. Nava won the election and set his goals on the governor's office in the upcoming election. In 1961 Nava attempted to run for the office of governor as the PRI candidate but was rejected by the party. The Potosino Civic Front was created by Nava in response to the rejection and he went on to run as an independent in the election. The PRI candidate won the election, but reports of voter fraud emerged.

Return to politics: 1982-1992 Nava once again ran for Mayor with the back drop of his Potosíno Civic Front (FCP), supported by the National Action Party (PAN) and the Unified Socialist Party of Mexico (PSUM). Nava won the 1982 Mayoral election and again set his sights on the governors office. In 1991 Nava, now in his late 70's and suffering from bladder cancer, ran for the governor's office under the PCF and supported by the Mexican Democratic Party (PDM), PAN, and the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD). Nava's opponent in the 1991 election was Fausto Zapata who represented the ruling PRI party. Zapata had held previous posts such as congressman and senator as well as foreign ambassador. With the ballots closed Zapata was declared the victor by 2–1 margin, and Nava again claimed fraud by the PRI. Nava's claims this time were supported by groups set up to examine the voting process. Poll watchers reported violations of voting rights at over half the locations, stating there were instances of polling places transferring locations at the last minute, names being removed from the registration lists, PRI members voting multiple times and missing ballot boxes.

Thirteen days after Zapata's election certification, he resigned the office at the behest of President Carlos Salinas de Gortari. With the March of Dignity returning home believing they had succeeded, Salinas appointed Gonzalo Martinez Corbala, a PRI member, to the Governors office, instead of Nava. Zapata was then awarded the position of consul general for Mexico in Los Angeles. Martinez arranged for new elections in 1993 with citizen councils running the elections and polling locations.