Elected treasurer of São Paulo FC in 1952,[2] he grew politically at the club, reaching the offices of financial director and later president.

In 1965, Natel ran for mayor of the city of São Paulo, but lost the elections to Brigadeiro Faria Lima.

The first, between 6 June 1966 and 31 January 1967, occurred when, as vice-governor, he replaced the then-governor Ademar de Barros after he was removed from office by the Brazilian military government.

[2] In his first term in government, continuing a project by Ademar, Natel unified the eleven hydroelectric plants in São Paulo, creating the Companhia Energética de São Paulo (CESP) and modernized the state finance system, through his secretary Antônio Delfim Netto.

During his term, he fired mayor of São Paulo José Carlos de Figueiredo Ferraz by letter due to numerous administrative disagreements.