Discretos ou ambiciosos?: a carreira eleitoral dos vice-prefeitos das capitais estaduais brasileiras (1985-2018).

Abstract

This study consists of an investigation of the electoral career of those who were elected to the post of vice-mayor of one of Brazil's 26 state capitals in between the years 1985 and 2012. The general objective is to analyze the electoral career patterns presented by these individuals throughout their professional trajectories. With this, the research aims to comprehend the career patterns presented by those characters. The study analyzes the trajectory of 191 individuals, from the moment they were elected to the office of vice mayor up until their last opportunity to run in an election. The data were analyzed through a quantitative methodology and employed descriptive statistics. The results indicate that there are several political career paths in Brazil since the political system provides an integrated career environment for vice mayors, which allows them to circulate throughout the different levels of government and political mechanisms. These results corroborate to the diagnosis of the existence of a political system with the possibility of career movements, one where professional politicians can move freely between political positions, an absent characteristic in rigid or unidirectional environments.