[1][4][6][7] Menéndez was one of the several candidates targeted by violent attacks in the run-up to the elections,[3][5][6] which were held alongside the 2023 Ecuadorian constitutional referendum and in the midst of an escalating wave of crime and violence across Ecuador, mainly linked to the then ongoing nationwide security crisis and the growing influence of criminal organizations with connections to drug trafficking in the country.

[4][5][6][8] As for Article 112 of the Code of Democracy [es], the regional office of the Citizen Revolution Movement was allowed to indicate a new candidate to replace him:[6][8] Verónica Lucas Marcillo was chosen to step in to fill the post on behalf of Menéndez, and would eventually be sworn in as the new mayor of the canton on 14 May 2023.

[3][4][5][6] As a result of conflicts between the aforementioned organizations, since 2021 Ecuador had gone through a nationwide security crisis, which stemmed from a series of violent clashes and riots in penitentiaries across the nation and manifested itself outside of prisons, as well, causing a sharp rise in the country's overall murder rate.

[6][14] After stepping down from his role at Intercable, on 1 August 2022 Menéndez had officially announced his candidacy for mayor of the canton of Puerto López in the 2023 Ecuadorian local elections, being nominated by the Citizen Revolution Movement, a left-wing political party led by former President Rafael Correa.

[7] The Citizen Revolution Movement, the party that had been supporting Menéndez during his campaign, confirmed his death on their official social media pages, denouncing the state of violence and turmoil surrounding the elections and asking institutions to open an investigation and find the perpetrators of the murder.

[4][5][6][8] As for Article 112 of the Code of Democracy [es], the regional office of the Citizen Revolution Movement was allowed to indicate a new candidate to replace the late Menéndez:[6][8] shortly after the election's results were publicly shared, Verónica Lucas Marcillo was registered by the party as the newly-appointed mayor of Puerto López, as she was set to be officially sworn in on 14 May 2023.