jefe político

Etymology
, from +

Noun

 * 1) governor of a province.
 * 2) police official (in Central America).
 * 3)  right-hand man of a state governor (in Mexico).

Usage notes
Both the original Spanish plural jefes políticos and a more Anglicized plural jefe políticos are in use.

As jefe “chief” is the head noun, the form to be advocated by traditional grammar is jefes político (compare passers-by, brothers-in-law, etc.) but this form does not appear to be in wide use.

Quotations

 * 1993, Knut Walter, The Regime of Anastasio Somoza
 * The jefe político even objected to the term concentración de masas, defining it as Marxist in its origins and therefore subversive.
 * 1995, Jeffrey L Gould, To Die in This Way
 * First, we see a high degree of deference to and dependence on the jefe político.
 * 1997, Don E Dumond, The Machete and the Cross
 * A fresh column of troops from the capital and a new jefe político restored some order, forcing Novelo to hide in the countryside.
 * 2000, Mark Pendergrast, Uncommon Grounds
 * The Indians sometimes petitioned the jefe políticos (governors) for help.
 * 2004, Francie R Chassen-Lopez, From Liberal to Revolutionary Oaxaca
 * In order to keep this peace, jefes políticos could call on armed forces to guarantee the state’s order and security.