List of mayors of Ponce, Puerto Rico


This is a list of mayors of Ponce, Puerto Rico's southern economic center, the island's second largest and second most important city.
From 1692 to 1840, the office of mayor in Ponce was filled either by local hacendados or by military officers appointed by the governor, depending on whether the political situation on Spain at the time was that of a constitutional or an absolutist government. From 1840 to 1870, mayors were oftentimes elected by the municipal council, whose members were called regidores. In 1870, political parties were created for the first time and municipal officials were elected by the people at large, and the mayor, as well as the members of the municipal council, would belong to one of the two parties active, either the Partido Liberal Reformista or the Partido Incondicional Español. With the advent of the American political system in Puerto Rico after the American invasion of 1898, the mayor was elected by popular vote, which is the system still in place.
Ponce's first mayor was Don Pedro Sánchez de Mathos, in 1692, appointed by governor Juan Robles de Lorenzana. Ponce elected its first mayor on 20 September 1812. Its first elected mayor was José Ortiz de la Renta, who took office in 1812. Ortiz de la Renta occupied the post of mayor on eight different occasions between 1812 and 1846. The current mayor of Ponce is María "Mayita" Meléndez Altieri, from the New Progressive Party, elected in 2008. She became the first woman elected to the office of mayor by the people of Ponce in its extensive political history. She is also the first mayor of a party other than the Popular Democratic Party in Ponce since 1989, when Rafael "Churumba" Cordero Santiago won the elections and took the oath of office that same year.
Throughout the centuries, the Ponce municipal heads of government listed here as "mayors", may have held titles different than the modern title of "Mayor". Some of the other titles held were Teniente a guerra, Corregidor, Alcalde mayor, Alcalde ordinario, Justicia mayor, Alcalde constitucional, Alcalde en propiedad, Alcalde real ordinario, and Comandante militar. Regardless of the different titles held, the people listed here were the maximum civil authority at the municipal level. In the lists that follow, "Alcalde" refers to the Spanish colonial position attained via election by the regidores of the municipal council, and refers to someone who had both judicial and administrative functions. "Mayor", on the other hand, refers to a local executive, elected by the people, with administrative functions only.

18th century

Source: Eduardo Neumann Gandía, Enciclopedia de Puerto Rico, and Neysa Rodríguez Deynes.
#NameIn OfficePosition HeldPolitical Party
1Pedro Sánchez de Mathos1692 – 1701Teniente a guerraN/A
2Dámaso de Toro1701 – 1706Teniente a guerraN/A
3Aurelio Juan Ramírez de Arellano1706 – 1710Teniente a guerraN/A
4Joseph de Toro1710 – ?Teniente a guerraN/A
5Francisco Ortíz de la Renta1766Teniente a guerraN/A

19th century

Sources: Eduardo Neumann Gandía, Enciclopedia de Puerto Rico, and Neysa Rodríguez Deynes.
#NameIn OfficePosition HeldPolitical Party
6José Benítez1 January 1800 – 31 December 1811Teniente a guerraN/A
7José Ortíz de la Renta1 January 1812 – 31 December 1813Alcalde constitucionalN/A
8José de Toro1 January 1814 – 31 December 1814Teniente a GuerraN/A
9José Ortíz de la Renta1 January 1815 – 2 January 1816Teniente a GuerraN/A
10Alejandro Ordóñez3 January 1816 – 31 December 1818Teniente justicia mayorN/A
11Juan Dávila1 January 1819 – 31 December 1819Alcalde ordinarioN/A
12Francisco Vassallo1 January 1820 – ca. 2 May 1820Comandante militar and alcaldeN/A
13Joaquín Martínezca. 2 May 1820 – ca. 3 June 1820Alcalde ordinarioN/A
14José de Toroca. 3 June 1820 – ? 1820Alcalde ordinarioN/A
15José Ortíz de la Renta? 1820 – 31 December 1820Alcalde constitucionalN/A
16José Casimiro Ortíz de la Renta1 January 1821 – ?Alcalde constitucionalN/A
17Joaquín Tellechea? 1821 – ? 1821Alcalde constitucional N/A
18José Casimiro Ortíz de la Renta? 1821 – 31 December 1821Alcalde constitucionalN/A
19José Molina1 January 1822 – ? 1822Alcalde constitucionalN/A
20José Mercado? 1822 – 31 December 1822Alcalde constitucional N/A
21José Ortíz de la Renta1 January 1823 – 31 December 1825Alcalde propietarioN/A
22Tomás Pérez Guerra1 January 1826 – 31 December 1826Alcalde real ordinarioN/A
23Julián Villodas1 January 1827 – 31 December 1830Teniente a guerraN/A
24Tomás de Renovales1 January 1831 – 31 December 1831AlcaldeN/A
25Francisco Vassallo1 January 1832 – 31 December 1832Comandante militar and alcaldeN/A
26Antonio Toro1 January 1833 – 31 December 1835AlcaldeN/A
27Antonio Albizu1 January 1836 – ? 1836Teniente alcaldeN/A
28Juan de Dios Conde? 1836 – 31 December 1836AlcaldeN/A
29José Ortíz de la Renta1 January 1837 – 31 December 1837AlcaldeN/A
30Patricio Colón1 January 1838 – 31 December 1838AlcaldeN/A
31Juan de Dios Conde1 January 1839 – 31 December 1839AlcaldeN/A
32Salvador de Vives1 January 1840 – 5 January 1842AlcaldeN/A
33José Ortíz de la Renta6 January 1842 – 31 December 1842AlcaldeN/A
34Juan Rondón1 January 1843 – ? 1843AlcaldeN/A
35José Ortíz de la Renta? 1843 - 31 December 1843PropietarioN/A
36Bonifacio Martínez de Baños1 January 1844 – 31 December 1844AlcaldeN/A
37Salvador de Vives1 January 1844 – 24 November 1845Alcalde en propiedadN/A
38Antonio Corro25 November 1845 – 30 November 1845Alcalde N/A
39José Zaldo1 December 1845 – 31 December 1845Alcalde N/A
40Antonio Corro1 January 1846 – 31 March 1846Alcalde N/A
41José Ortíz de la Renta1 April 1846 – 30 June 1846AlcaldeN/A
42José de Jesús Fernández1 July 1846 – 31 December 1846AlcaldeN/A
43David Laporte1 January 1847 – 30 June 1847AlcaldeN/A
44Francisco Romero1 July 1847 – 31 August 1847AlcaldeN/A
45Juan Lacot1 September 1847 – 31 September 1848AlcaldeN/A
46José María Quesada1 October 1848 – 31 December 1848AlcaldeN/A
47Juan Prats1 January 1849 – 30 June 1849AlcaldeN/A
48Esteban Vidal1 July 1849 – 30 September 1849AlcaldeN/A
49Juan Prats1 October 1849 – 31 December 1849AlcaldeN/A
50Flavius Dede1 January 1850 – 31 March 1850AlcaldeN/A
51Coronel Antonio Fortún1 April 1850 – 8 January 1851CorregidorN/A
52Manuel Cedeño de Poveda9 January 1851 – 23 April 1851CorregidorN/A
53Guillermo Neumann23 April 1851 – 30 September 1851CorregidorN/A
54Coronel Vicente Julbe1 October 1851 – 14 February 1854CorregidorN/A
55Julio Duboc14 February 1854 – 14 March 1854Alcalde N/A
56Escolástico Fuentes14 March 1854 – 14 April 1854Alcalde N/A
57Pablo Manfredi14 April 1854 – 14 May 1854Alcalde N/A
58José Benito Paz Falcón14 May 1854 – 14 June 1854Alcalde N/A
59Antonio E. Molina14 June 1854 – 23 July 1854Alcalde N/A
60Coronel Félix O'Neill24 July 1854 – 31 August 1856Comandante militarN/A
61Pedro Juan Capó1 September 1856 – 31 December 1856CorregidorN/A
62Hilarión Pérez Guerra1 January 1857 – 11 July 1863CorregidorN/A
63Coronel Luis de Quixano y Font11 July 1863 – 23 June 1865CorregidorN/A
64Francisco Olazarra23 June 1865 – 31 December 1865CorregidorN/A
65Francisco Carreras1 January 1866 – 31 August 1866CorregidorN/A
66Francisco Romero1 September 1866 – 31 October 1866 Corregidor N/A
67Carlos Cabrera y Martínez1 November 1866 – 1 December 1866Corregidor N/A
68Coronel Enrique O'Neil1 December 1866 – 21 January 1867CorregidorN/A
69Demetrio Santaella21 January 1867 – 31 December 1868CorregidorN/A
70Coronel Elicio Berriz1 January 1869 – 11 May 1870Comandante militarN/A
71Vicente Pérez Valdivieso11 May 1870 – 27 July 1871Alcalde-
72Miguel Arribas28 July 1871 – 31 December 1871Alcalde-
73Coronel Elicio Berriz1 January 1872 – 31 January 1872 Comandante militar-
74Francisco Arce y Romero1 February 1872 – 28 February 1872 Corregidor -
75Alejandro Albizu1 March 1872 – 26 September 1872Corregidor -
76Juan Cortada y Quintana27 September 1872 – 4 February 1874Alcalde popular-
77Pedro Rosalí4 February 1874 – 5 May 1874Alcalde-
78Rafael León y García5 May 1874 – 28 April 1875Alcalde-
79Coronel Serafín Donderis28 April 1875 – 31 March 1876Alcalde-
80Juan José Cartagena1 April 1876 – 4 July 1879Alcalde-
81Coronel Lucas Jiménez4 July 1879 – 30 April 1880Alcalde-
82Coronel José Mirelis1 May 1880 – 31 January 1881Alcalde delegado-
83Juan José Cartagena1 February 1881 – 31 October 1881Alcalde-
84Andrés Caparrós y García1 October 1881 – 28 September 1882Alcalde-
85Máximo de Meana y Guridi28 September 1882 – 31 May 1884Alcalde delegadoIncondicional Español
86Rafael de Zárate y Sequera11 June 1884 – 16 July 1886AlcaldeIncondicional Español
87Ramón Elices Montes16 July 1886 – 31 May 1887AlcaldeIncondicional Español
88Ermelindo Salazar1 June 1887 – 10 July 1887Alcalde-
89Fernando Diez de Ulzurrún y Somellera10 July 1887 – 4 January 1888AlcaldeIncondicional Español
90Juan de Ponte5 January 1888 – 4 April 1888AlcaldeIncondicional Español
91Vicente de Soliveres y Miera5 April 1888 – 19 March 1889AlcaldeIncondicional Español
92Miguel Rosich y Más8 May 1889 – 31 March 1890AlcaldeLiberal Reformista
93Carlos Eusebio de Ayo12 April 1890 – 2 January 1893AlcaldeIncondicional Español
94Comandante José de Nouvilas de Vilar3 January 1893 – 9 August 1894Comandante militarIncondicional Español
95Eduardo Armstrong10 August 1894 – 3 May 1895AlcaldeLiberal Reformista
96Félix Saurí y Vivas13 May 1895 – 11 July 1895AlcaldeIncondicional Español
97Juan José Potous12 July 1895 – 10 May 1896AlcaldeIncondicional Español
98Comandante Luis Alvarado y González11 May 1896 – 28 March 1897Comandante militarIncondicional Español
99Miguel Rosich y Más29 March 1897 - 8 December 1897AlcaldeLiberal Reformista
100Luis Gautier9 December 1897 – 20 June 1898Alcalde-
101Ulpiano Colóm8 July 1898 – 8 November 1898Alcalde-
102José Lloréns Echevarría8 November 1898 – 10 November 1898Alcalde-
103Luis Porrata Doria11 November 1898 – 12 September 1899Alcalde-
104Major Albert L. Myer12 September 1899 – 1899Comandante militar-

20th century

#NameIn OfficePosition HeldPolitical Party
105Pedro Juan Rosaly23 December 1900 – 28 February 1901MayorRepublican
106José de Guzmán Benítez28 February 1901 – 2 January 1902MayorRepublican
107Enrique Chevalier2 January 1902 – 2 January 1903MayorRepublican
108Antonio Arias2 January 1903 – 1 January 1904MayorRepublican
109Manuel V. Domenech2 January 1904 – 1 January 1905MayorRepublican
110Luis P. Valdivieso2 January 1905 – 1 January 1906MayorUnion
111Santiago Oppenheimer2 January 1906 – 1 January 1907MayorUnion
112Simón Moret Gallart2 January 1907 – 1 January 1915MayorUnion
113Rafael Rivera Esbrí2 January 1915 – 1 January 1917MayorUnion
114Luis Yordán Dávila2 January 1917 – 1 January 1918MayorUnion
115Rodulfo del Valle2 January 1918 – 1 January 1921MayorUnion
116Francisco Parra Capó2 January 1921 – 1 January 1924MayorPopular
117Abelardo Aguilú, Jr.2 January 1924 – 1 January 1925MayorPopular
118Guillermo Vivas Valdivieso2 January 1925 – 2 January 1929MayorAlianza
119Emilio Fagot2 January 1929 – 2 January 1933MayorRepublican
120Blas Oliveras2 January 1933 – 2 January 1937MayorRepublican
121José Tormos Diego2 January 1937 – 2 January 1941MayorRepublican
122Andrés Grillasca Salas2 January 1941 – 9 May 1956MayorPPD
123José Dapena Laguna9 November 1956 – 1 January 1957MayorPPD
124Carlos Juan Cintrón2 January 1957 – 2 January 1961MayorPPD
125Juan Luis Boscio2 January 1961 – 2 January 1965MayorPPD
126Eduardo Ruberté Bisó2 January 1965 – 2 January 1969MayorPPD
127Juan H. Cintrón García2 January 1969 – 2 January 1973MayorPNP
128Luis A. Morales2 January 1973 – 2 January 1977MayorPPD
129José G. Tormos Vega2 January 1977 – 22 February 1984MayorPNP
130José Dapena Thompson22 February 1984 – ?? October 1988MayorPNP
131Iván Ayala Cádiz?? December 1988 – 2 January 1989MayorPNP
132Rafael Cordero Santiago2 January 1989 – 2 January 2000MayorPPD

21st century

Other mayors

Following is a list of other Ponce mayors according to Enciclopedia Puerto Rico but which are not accounted for in the 1913 historical account by Eduardo Neumann Gandía, Verdadera y Auténtica Historia de la Ciudad de Ponce: Desde sus Primitivos Tiempos hasta la Época Contemporánea. Source: Enciclopedia de Puerto Rico. Some of the names in this list are listed in Neumann's book, but not for the additional time periods indicated in Enciclopedia Puerto Rico. The positions held are all generically listed as "Alcalde" as a placeholder; but, at least for some of them, based on the time periods Enciclopedia Puerto Rico states they served, likely held a title other than "Alcalde".
#NameIn OfficePosition HeldPolitical Party
AJuan A. Ramírez de Arellano1692AlcaldeN/A
BTomás de Renovales1831AlcaldeN/A
CFrancisco Vassallo1832AlcaldeN/A
DAntonio Toro1833AlcaldeN/A
DBonifacio Martínez de Baños1844AlcaldeN/A
EGuillermo Oppenheimer1852AlcaldeN/A
FMiguel Luchetti1852AlcaldeN/A
GPedro de Oña y García1853AlcaldeN/A
HJosé Pelligero de Lama1853AlcaldeN/A
IEugenio López-Bustamante1854AlcaldeN/A
JLeonardo de Campos1866AlcaldeN/A
KPedro Diz-Romero1866AlcaldeN/A
LFrancisco Arce y Romero1867AlcaldeN/A
MNicasio de Navascués y Asia1868AlcaldeN/A
NJacobo de Araoz y Balmaceda1868AlcaldeN/A
ORecaredo Canejo y Custodio1869AlcaldeN/A
PManuel Vidal y González1871Alcalde-
QInocencio Vallenilla1872Alcalde-
RManuel Vidal y González1873Alcalde-
STeodoro Capó1873Alcalde-
TJuan Germán-Prats1874Alcalde-
URosendo Aquíles-Colón1880Alcalde-
VErmelindo Salazar1880Alcalde-
WRosendo Aquíles-Colón1881Alcalde-
XSalvador Vives1883Alcalde-
YJuan Mayoral1883Alcalde-
ZÁngel Fernández1893Alcalde-
AAFélix Saurí Vivas1893Alcalde-
ABAngel Fernández1897Alcalde-
ACFélix Saurí y Vivas1897Alcalde-
ADLuis Porrata-Doría1897Alcalde-

Pre-1692 mayors

Historians Eli D. Oquendo Rodriguez and Francisco Lluch Mora allude to various other Ponce municipal magistrates in the years preceding 1692. Among them are Juan de Quiñones, and Juan Quiñones, Pedro Sanchez, Juan Joseph Ortiz, and Andres Martinez de Quiñones.

Footnotes