At 28 years old, Reuler Cardoso made history in Araporã (MG) as the youngest deputy mayor in the city. After his term as a councilman, he takes on a new challenge in the Executive branch with the same motivation that led him to enter politics: to transform lives through popular participation and structural public policies.

“At a very young age, I discovered that my purpose is to transform people’s lives. I understood that politics would be the most powerful tool for this, especially because of my own story. The house where I live today was the result of a municipal housing program, so I realized the impact that politics can have on people’s lives and I wanted to be part of this transformation,” says Reuler.

Since the beginning of his career as a councilman, Reuler has based his term on three fundamental pillars: youth, education and popular participation. Now, as vice-mayor, he intends to apply this experience to a management that is closer to the people.

Policies that generate social impact

One of the projects with the greatest impact during his time at the Chamber was the creation of the Guarda Mirim Program, which opened up opportunities for young people in the job market.

“I have always had a huge challenge in including youth in the budget and in political discussions. We created this program to offer training, qualification and a monthly grant of R$600 for each young person. In just one week, we have already seen changes in the behavior of these teenagers. It was one of the most rewarding moments of my career,” he said.

Another step forward was the municipal mental health care policy, approved at the end of his term as councilor. “The city had nothing structured to meet this growing demand. We managed to approve a policy that strengthens the care network and expands access to mental health. Now, as part of the Executive, I will ensure that this policy is implemented,” says the deputy mayor.

In education, Reuler also secured resources to modernize schools, such as the complete renovation of the municipal school’s computer labs. “The computers in my old municipal school had been the same for over ten years. We were able to replace them all and today students have a more modern environment to learn. Technology needs to be an ally of education,” he recalls.

First steps in management

The new administration takes over the municipality in a scenario of financial and structural challenges, and Reuler is already clear about what the priorities will be in the first 100 days of government.

“Health will be one of the main focuses. The city is facing long queues for exams and surgeries, and medical professionals have not been paid for months. Our immediate solution will be a joint effort to reduce waiting times and restructure primary care, avoiding overloading the municipal hospital,” explains Reuler.

Another historical challenge for the city is the lack of water: although Araporã is bathed by the Paranaíba River, the supply infrastructure is precarious, leaving residents without water for days. We will modernize the collection and distribution system to ensure a continuous and reliable supply.

Training and support network

Elected as a councilman at a very young age, Reuler faced challenges early in his career. Without a support network or specific training, he had to learn the challenges of politics in practice. RenovaBR, however, changed this scenario.

“RenovaBR was essential for my preparation. It gives us technical knowledge and, at the same time, connects us with other leaders who live in similar realities. The exchange of experiences and good practices makes all the difference in public management.”

Throughout his campaign, Reuler has emphasized that his mission is to build a city for the people. His main goal is to restore the population's trust in politics, ensuring that everyone participates in government decisions.

“Unfortunately, people are discouraged with politics. But we all depend on it. I want the citizens of Araporã to feel that they are part of this process and realize that it is possible to build a better city. We need everyone to participate, not only in the campaign, but in the day-to-day running of the government,” he concludes.