William Miranda Marín

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William "Willie" Miranda Marín (born on September 23, 1940) is the mayor of Caguas, Puerto Rico. The son of José Miranda Gómez, a sugar cane cutter, and Rafaela Marín, a tobacco stripper, Miranda Marin was born in the Tomás de Castro sector of rural Caguas. [1]

Miranda Marin graduated from the José Gautier Benítez High School in Caguas in 1957. Four years later he earned a bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras. In 1969 he completed his law degree at the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras and was admitted to the bar in 1970.[1]

He has served as executive vice president of the Government Development Bank from 1973 to 1975, as executive director of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority from 1975 to 1979, and as Adjutant General of the Puerto Rico National Guard with the rank of Major General (1990-1992). While commanding the National Guard, he also served as executive director of the Office for Improvement of the Public Schools of Puerto Rico from 1990 to 1992.[1]

Miranda Marín also held top positions at Empresas Díaz and the San Juan Cement Co. from 1979 to 1990, among them treasurer, executive vice president and co-chairman of the board. Before seeking public office for the first time in 1996, he devoted three years to housing and commercial development.[1]

On January 13, 1997 Miranda Marín became of Caguas since and won his re-election in 1996, 2000, and 2004.

Miranda Marin has also served as member and treasurer of the board of the Puerto Rico Health Services Corp., as chairman of the board of the San Juan Children's Choir, and as chairman of the board of the Community Services Institute.[1]

Miranda Marín has also been chairman of the U.S. Democratic Party Chapter of Puerto Rico, secretary-general of the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico (PPD), chairman of the PPD Status Commission, and president of the Puerto Rico Mayors Association. He is now chairman of the board of the Municipal Revenue Collections Center (CRIM by its acronym in Spanish).[1]

In 2002, Miranda Marin earned him the distinction of being voted as Caribbean Business' Public Sector Person of the Year.[1]

In 2004, Miranda Marín devised and promoted the idea of implementing a sales tax at the municipal level. On February 2005 the municipal legislature of Caguas approved a 1 percent sales tax that would be used to pay for the cost of trash pick-up.[2] The tax was nicknamed the Willie Tax by Puerto Ricans, and proved to be an enormous success in financial terms that provoked other municipalities to follow.

Miranda Marín and his wife have three children: William Edgardo, Luis Alexander, and José Juan. They currently live in the sector of Bairoa in Caguas.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Carmona, José L.. "Person Of The Year, Public Sector: William Miranda Marin", Caribbean Business, November 28, 2002. Retrieved on April 29, 2006.
  2. ^ "Miranda Marin Doesn't Back Down On 1% Tax", Associated Press, February 26, 2005. Retrieved on April 29, 2006.
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