Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico |
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Flag of the Municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico
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Incumbent
Marlese Sifre since November 2, 2023 |
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| Municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico | |
| Style | Alcalde(sa) |
| Seat | City of Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Term length | 4 years (renewable)
Via popular vote
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| 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 government in Ponce, Puerto Rico. This person is in charge of running the city and making important decisions for its people. The current mayor is Marlese Sifre Rodriguez.
Contents
How Ponce's Mayors Were Chosen Over Time
For a long time, from 1692 to 1840, the mayor of Ponce was either a local landowner (called a hacendado) or a military officer. These leaders were chosen by the governor, depending on the political situation in Spain at the time.
Later, from 1840 to 1870, mayors were often chosen by the city council members, who were known as regidores.
In 1870, political parties were formed in Puerto Rico for the first time. From then on, people in Ponce could vote for their mayor and city council members. These officials usually belonged to one of the two main parties: the Liberal Reformist Party or the Unconditional Spanish Party.
When the United States took over Puerto Rico in 1898, the way mayors were chosen changed again. Since then, the mayor of Ponce has been elected directly by the people through popular vote. This is still how it works today.
First Mayors of Ponce
The first mayor of Ponce was Pedro Sánchez de Mathos, who was appointed in 1692.
Ponce held its first election for mayor and its first city assembly on September 20, 1812. The first mayor elected by the people was José Ortiz de la Renta. He served as mayor many times between 1812 and 1846.
In 2008, María "Mayita" Meléndez Altieri made history. She became the first woman ever elected as mayor of Ponce. She was also the first mayor from a different political party (the New Progressive Party) since 1989.
Different Names for Ponce's Leaders
Over the years, the leaders of Ponce's government have had different titles. Some of these old titles included Teniente a guerra, Corregidor, Alcalde mayor, and Alcalde ordinario.
No matter the title, the person in this role was always the highest civil authority in the city. The term "Alcalde" in Spanish colonial times meant a leader chosen by the city council members. This person had both legal and administrative duties. Today, a "Mayor" is an executive leader elected by the people, mainly with administrative duties.
Recent Mayors of Ponce
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