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List of mayors of Ponce, Puerto Rico facts for kids

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This article is about the mayors of Ponce, a very important city on the southern coast of Puerto Rico. The mayor is the main leader of a city, like a president for a town! This list shows all the people who have served as the top leader of Ponce throughout history.

For a long time, from 1692 to 1840, the person in charge of Ponce was either a local hacendado (a large landowner) or a military officer. These leaders were chosen by the governor, depending on what kind of government Spain had at the time.

Later, from 1840 to 1870, the mayors were often chosen by the city council, whose members were called regidores. In 1870, political parties started in Puerto Rico for the first time. This meant people could vote for their leaders, and the mayor and council members would belong to one of the two main parties: the Liberal Reformist Party or the Partido Incondicional Español.

When the United States took over Puerto Rico in 1898, the way mayors were chosen changed again. Since then, the mayor has been elected by a popular vote, meaning the people of Ponce directly vote for who they want as their mayor. This is how it still works today!

Ponce's first known mayor was Don Pedro Sánchez de Mathos, who started in 1692. However, some historians believe there were earlier leaders too. The first mayor actually elected by the people of Ponce was José Ortiz de la Renta in 1812. He was mayor many times between 1812 and 1846.

The current interim mayor of Ponce is Marlene Sifre Rodriguez, who took office in November 2023. She took over from Luis Manuel Irizarry Pabón, who was elected in 2020. Before him, María "Mayita" Meléndez Altieri was mayor. She was the first woman ever elected mayor of Ponce by the people, which was a big moment in the city's history!

Over the years, the leaders of Ponce had different titles, not just "mayor." Some of these old titles included Teniente a guerra, Corregidor, and Alcalde ordinario. No matter what their title was, these people were always the highest civil authority in Ponce. The word "Alcalde" usually refers to a Spanish colonial leader chosen by council members, who had both legal and administrative duties. The word "Mayor" as we use it today means a local leader elected by the people, mainly with administrative duties.

Ponce's Leaders in the 18th Century

Here are some of the earliest known leaders of Ponce.

# Name In Office Position Held Political Party
1 Pedro Sánchez de Mathos 1692 – 1701 Teniente a guerra N/A
2 Dámaso de Toro 1701 – 1706 Teniente a guerra N/A
3 Aurelio Juan Ramírez de Arellano 1706 – 1710 Teniente a guerra N/A
4 Joseph de Toro 1710 – ? Teniente a guerra N/A
5 Francisco Ortíz de la Renta 1766 Teniente a guerra N/A

Ponce's Leaders in the 19th Century

This list shows the leaders of Ponce during the 1800s, a time of many changes for the city.

# Name In Office Position Held Political Party
6 José Benítez 1 January 1800 – 31 December 1811 Teniente a guerra N/A
7 José Ortíz de la Renta 1 January 1812 – 31 December 1813 Alcalde constitucional N/A
8 José de Toro 1 January 1814 – 31 December 1814 Teniente a guerra N/A
9 José Ortíz de la Renta 1 January 1815 – 2 January 1816 Teniente a guerra N/A
10 Alejandro Ordóñez 3 January 1816 – 31 December 1818 Teniente justicia mayor N/A
11 Juan Dávila 1 January 1819 – 31 December 1819 Alcalde ordinario N/A
12 Francisco Vassallo 1 January 1820 – ca. 2 May 1820 Comandante militar and alcalde N/A
13 Joaquín Martínez ca. 2 May 1820 – ca. 3 June 1820 Alcalde ordinario N/A
14 José de Toro ca. 3 June 1820 – ? 1820 Alcalde ordinario N/A
15 José Ortíz de la Renta  ? 1820 – 31 December 1820 Alcalde constitucional N/A
16 José Casimiro Ortíz de la Renta 1 January 1821 – ? Alcalde constitucional N/A
17 Joaquín Tellechea  ? 1821 – ? 1821 Alcalde constitucional (interim) N/A
18 José Casimiro Ortíz de la Renta  ? 1821 – 31 December 1821 Alcalde constitucional N/A
19 José Molina 1 January 1822 – ? 1822 Alcalde constitucional N/A
20 José Mercado  ? 1822 – 31 December 1822 Alcalde constitucional (interim) N/A
21 José Ortíz de la Renta 1 January 1823 – 31 December 1825 Alcalde propietario N/A
22 Tomás Pérez Guerra 1 January 1826 – 31 December 1826 Alcalde real ordinario N/A
23 Julián Villodas 1 January 1827 – 31 December 1830 Teniente a guerra N/A
24 Tomás de Renovales 1 January 1831 – 31 December 1831 Alcalde N/A
25 Francisco Vassallo 1 January 1832 – 31 December 1832 Comandante militar and alcalde N/A
26 Antonio Toro 1 January 1833 – 31 December 1835 Alcalde N/A
27 Antonio Albizu 1 January 1836 – ? 1836 Teniente alcalde N/A
28 Juan de Dios Conde  ? 1836 – 31 December 1836 Alcalde N/A
29 José Ortíz de la Renta 1 January 1837 – 31 December 1837 Alcalde N/A
30 Patricio Colón 1 January 1838 – 31 December 1838 Alcalde N/A
31 Juan de Dios Conde 1 January 1839 – 31 December 1839 Alcalde N/A
32 Salvador de Vives 1 January 1840 – 5 January 1842 Alcalde N/A
33 José Ortíz de la Renta 6 January 1842 – 31 December 1842 Alcalde N/A
34 Juan Rondón 1 January 1843 – ? 1843 Alcalde N/A
35 José Ortíz de la Renta  ? 1843 - 31 December 1843 Propietario N/A
36 Bonifacio Martínez de Baños 1 January 1844 – 31 December 1844 Alcalde N/A
37 Salvador de Vives 1 January 1844 – 24 November 1845 Alcalde en propiedad N/A
38 Antonio Corro 25 November 1845 – 30 November(?) 1845 Alcalde (interim) N/A
39 José Zaldo 1 December(?) 1845 – 31 December 1845 Alcalde (interim) N/A
40 Antonio Corro 1 January 1846 – 31 March 1846 Alcalde (interim) N/A
41 José Ortíz de la Renta 1 April 1846 – 30 June 1846 Alcalde N/A
42 José de Jesús Fernández 1 July 1846 – 31 December 1846 Alcalde N/A
43 David Laporte 1 January 1847 – 30 June 1847 Alcalde N/A
44 Francisco Romero 1 July 1847 – 31 August 1847 Alcalde N/A
45 Juan Lacot 1 September 1847 – 31 September 1848 Alcalde N/A
46 José María Quesada 1 October 1848 – 31 December 1848 Alcalde N/A
47 Juan Prats 1 January 1849 – 30 June 1849 Alcalde N/A
48 Esteban Vidal 1 July 1849 – 30 September 1849 Alcalde N/A
49 Juan Prats 1 October 1849 – 31 December 1849 Alcalde N/A
50 Flavius Dede 1 January 1850 – 31 March 1850 Alcalde N/A
51 Coronel Antonio Fortún 1 April 1850 – 8 January 1851 Corregidor N/A
52 Manuel Cedeño de Poveda 9 January 1851 – 23 April 1851 Corregidor N/A
53 Guillermo Neumann 23 April 1851 – 30 September 1851 Corregidor N/A
54 Coronel Vicente Julbe 1 October 1851 – 14 February 1854 Corregidor N/A
55 Julio Duboc 14 February 1854(?) – 14 March 1854(?) Alcalde (interim) N/A
56 Escolástico Fuentes 14 March 1854(?) – 14 April 1854(?) Alcalde (interim) N/A
57 Pablo Manfredi 14 April 1854(?) – 14 May 1854(?) Alcalde (interim) N/A
58 José Benito Paz Falcón 14 May 1854(?) – 14 June 1854(?) Alcalde (interim) N/A
59 Antonio E. Molina 14 June 1854(?) – 23 July 1854(?) Alcalde (interim) N/A
60 Coronel Félix O'Neill 24 July 1854 – 31 August 1856 Comandante militar N/A
61 Pedro Juan Capó 1 September 1856 – 31 December 1856 Corregidor N/A
62 Hilarión Pérez Guerra 1 January 1857 – 11 July 1863 Corregidor N/A
63 Coronel Luis de Quixano y Font 11 July 1863 – 23 June 1865 Corregidor N/A
64 Francisco Olazarra 23 June 1865 – 31 December 1865 Corregidor N/A
65 Francisco Carreras 1 January 1866 – 31 August 1866 Corregidor N/A
66 Francisco Romero 1 September 1866 – 31 October 1866 (?) Corregidor (interim) N/A
67 Carlos Cabrera y Martínez 1 November 1866 (?) – 1 December 1866 Corregidor (interim) N/A
68 Coronel Enrique O'Neil 1 December 1866 – 21 January 1867 Corregidor N/A
69 Demetrio Santaella 21 January 1867 – 31 December 1868 Corregidor N/A
70 Coronel Elicio Berriz 1 January 1869 – 11 May 1870 Comandante militar N/A
71 Vicente Pérez Valdivieso 11 May 1870 – 27 July 1871 Alcalde -
72 Miguel Arribas 28 July 1871 – 31 December 1871 Alcalde -
73 Coronel Elicio Berriz 1 January 1872 – 31 January 1872 (?) Comandante militar -
74 Francisco Arce y Romero 1 February 1872 (?) – 28 February 1872 (?) Corregidor (interim) -
75 Alejandro Albizu 1 March 1872 (?) – 26 September 1872 Corregidor (interim) -
76 Juan Cortada y Quintana 27 September 1872 – 4 February 1874 Alcalde popular -
77 Pedro Rosalí 4 February 1874 – 5 May 1874 Alcalde -
78 Rafael León y García 5 May 1874 – 28 April 1875 Alcalde -
79 Coronel Serafín Donderis 28 April 1875 – 31 March 1876 Alcalde -
80 Juan José Cartagena 1 April 1876 – 4 July 1879 Alcalde -
81 Coronel Lucas Jiménez 4 July 1879 – 30 April 1880 Alcalde -
82 Coronel José Mirelis 1 May 1880 – 31 January 1881 Alcalde delegado -
83 Juan José Cartagena 1 February 1881 – 31 October 1881 Alcalde -
84 Andrés Caparrós y García 1 October 1881 – 28 September 1882 Alcalde -
85 Máximo de Meana y Guridi 28 September 1882 – 31 May 1884 Alcalde delegado Incondicional Español
86 Rafael de Zárate y Sequera 11 June 1884 – 16 July 1886 Alcalde Incondicional Español
87 Ramón Elices Montes 16 July 1886 – 31 May 1887 Alcalde Incondicional Español
88 Ermelindo Salazar 1 June 1887 – 10 July 1887 Alcalde -
89 Fernando Diez de Ulzurrún y Somellera 10 July 1887 – 4 January 1888 Alcalde Incondicional Español
90 Juan de Ponte 5 January 1888 – 4 April 1888 Alcalde Incondicional Español
91 Vicente de Soliveres y Miera 5 April 1888 – 19 March 1889 Alcalde Incondicional Español
92 Miguel Rosich y Más 8 May 1889 – 31 March 1890 Alcalde Liberal Reformista
93 Carlos Eusebio de Ayo 12 April 1890 – 2 January 1893 Alcalde Incondicional Español
94 Comandante José de Nouvilas de Vilar 3 January 1893 – 9 August 1894 Comandante militar Incondicional Español
95 Eduardo Armstrong 10 August 1894 – 3 May 1895 Alcalde Liberal Reformista
96 Félix Saurí y Vivas 13 May 1895 – 11 July 1895 Alcalde Incondicional Español
97 Juan José Potous 12 July 1895 – 10 May 1896 Alcalde Incondicional Español
98 Comandante Luis Alvarado y González 11 May 1896 – 28 March 1897 Comandante militar Incondicional Español
99 Miguel Rosich y Más 29 March 1897 - 8 December 1897 Alcalde Liberal Reformista
100 Luis Gautier 9 December 1897 – 20 June 1898 Alcalde -
101 Ulpiano Colóm 8 July 1898 – 8 November 1898 Alcalde -
102 José Lloréns Echevarría 8 November 1898 – 10 November 1898 Alcalde -
103 Luis Porrata Doria 11 November 1898 – 12 September 1899 Alcalde -
104 Major Albert L. Myer 12 September 1899 – 1899 Comandante militar -

Ponce's Leaders in the 20th Century

This section lists the mayors of Ponce from the 1900s, showing how the city's leadership changed over time.

# Name In Office Position Held Political Party
105 Pedro Juan Rosaly 23 December 1900 – 28 February 1901 Mayor Republican
106 José de Guzmán Benítez 28 February 1901 – 2 January 1902 Mayor Republican
107 Enrique Chevalier 2 January 1902 – 2 January 1903 Mayor Republican
108 Antonio Arias 2 January 1903 – 1 January 1904 Mayor Republican
109 Manuel V. Domenech 2 January 1904 – 1 January 1905 Mayor Republican
110 Luis P. Valdivieso 2 January 1905 – 1 January 1906 Mayor Union
111 Santiago Oppenheimer 2 January 1906 – 1 January 1907 Mayor Union
112 Simón Moret Gallart 2 January 1907 – 1 January 1915 Mayor Union
113 Rafael Rivera Esbrí 2 January 1915 – 1 January 1917 Mayor Union
114 Luis Yordán Dávila 2 January 1917 – 1 January 1918 Mayor Union
115 Rodulfo del Valle 2 January 1918 – 1 January 1921 Mayor Union
116 Francisco Parra Capó 2 January 1921 – 1 January 1924 Mayor Popular ("El Ligao")
117 Abelardo Aguilú, Jr. 2 January 1924 – 1 January 1925 Mayor Popular ("El Ligao")
118 Guillermo Vivas Valdivieso 2 January 1925 – 2 January 1929 Mayor Alianza
119 Emilio Fagot 2 January 1929 – 2 January 1933 Mayor Republican
120 Blas Oliveras 2 January 1933 – 2 January 1937 Mayor Republican
121 José Tormos Diego 2 January 1937 – 2 January 1941 Mayor Republican
122 Andrés Grillasca Salas 2 January 1941 – 9 May 1956 Mayor PPD
123 José Dapena Laguna 9 November 1956 – 1 January 1957 Mayor PPD
124 Carlos Juan Cintrón 2 January 1957 – 2 January 1961 Mayor PPD
125 Juan Luis Boscio 2 January 1961 – 2 January 1965 Mayor PPD
126 Eduardo Ruberté Bisó 2 January 1965 – 2 January 1969 Mayor PPD
127 Juan H. Cintrón García 2 January 1969 – 2 January 1973 Mayor PNP
128 Luis A. Morales 2 January 1973 – 2 January 1977 Mayor PPD
129 José G. Tormos Vega 2 January 1977 – 22 February 1984 Mayor PNP
130 José Dapena Thompson 22 February 1984 – ?? October 1988 Mayor PNP
131 Iván Ayala Cádiz December 1988 – 2 January 1989 Mayor PNP
132 Rafael Cordero Santiago 2 January 1989 – 2 January 2000 Mayor PPD

Ponce's Leaders in the 21st Century

Here are the mayors who have led Ponce since the year 2000.

# Name In Office Position Held Political Party
132 Rafael Cordero Santiago 2 January 2000 – 17 January 2004 Mayor PPD
133 Delis Castillo Rivera de Santiago 17 January 2004 – 2 January 2005 Mayor (Interim) PPD
134 Francisco Zayas Seijo 2 January 2005 – 2 January 2009 Mayor PPD
135 Maria "Mayita" Meléndez Altieri 12 January 2009 – 11 January 2021 Mayor PNP
136 Luis Manuel Irizarry Pabón 11 January 2021 – 2 November 2023 Mayor PPD
134 Marlene Sifre Rodriguez 2 November 2023 – present Mayor (Interim) PPD

See also

  • Timeline of Ponce, Puerto Rico
  • Mayoralty in Puerto Rico
  • Cabildo
  • Cabildo insular
  • Corregimiento
  • Tierra Firme
  • Spanish military cultural legacy
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