Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico
Flag of the Municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico
Incumbent Marlese Sifre since November 2, 2023
Municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico
Style	Alcalde(sa)
Seat	City of Ponce, Puerto Rico
Term length	4 years (renewable) Via popular vote
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Puerto Rico
Formation	1692
First holder	Pedro Sánchez de Mathos
Deputy	Administrador del Municipio (Municipal manager)

The Mayor of Ponce is the main leader of the city of Ponce, in Puerto Rico. They are like the city's president or CEO. The current mayor is Marlese Sifre.

How Ponce's Mayors Were Chosen

For a long time, from 1692 to 1840, the mayor of Ponce was chosen in different ways. Sometimes, wealthy landowners called hacendados became mayor. Other times, military officers were appointed by the governor. This depended on whether Spain, which ruled Puerto Rico, had a government based on a constitution or one where the king had absolute power.

From 1840 to 1870, the city council often chose the mayor. Members of this council were called regidores.

The First Elections

In 1870, political parties were created in Puerto Rico for the first time. This was a big change! From then on, people could vote for their mayor and city council members. The mayor and council members would belong to one of the two main parties at the time: the Liberal Reformist Party or the Partido Incondicional Español.

After 1898, when the United States took over Puerto Rico, the way mayors were chosen changed again. Mayors began to be elected directly by the people through a popular vote. This is still how mayors are chosen in Ponce today.

Ponce's First Elected Mayors

One of Ponce's earliest mayors was Pedro Sánchez de Mathos in 1692. He was appointed by the governor.

Ponce held its first real election for mayor and the city assembly on September 20, 1812. The first person elected by the people was José Ortiz de la Renta. He served as mayor many times between 1812 and 1846.

First Woman Mayor

In 2008, María "Mayita" Meléndez Altieri made history. She became the first woman ever elected as mayor of Ponce by the people. She was also the first mayor from a party other than the Popular Democratic Party since 1989.

Different Titles for Leaders

Over the centuries, the leaders of Ponce's government had many different titles. They weren't always called "Mayor." Some of these old titles included:

• Teniente a guerra
• Corregidor
• Alcalde mayor
• Alcalde ordinario
• Justicia mayor
• Alcalde constitucional
• Alcalde en propiedad
• Alcalde real ordinario
• Comandante militar

Even though the titles changed, the person holding the position was always the highest civil authority in the city. In the Spanish system, an "Alcalde" was often elected by council members and had both legal and administrative duties. A "Mayor," on the other hand, is usually elected by the people and mainly handles administrative tasks for the city.

Recent Mayors of Ponce