María Meléndez
María Meléndez Altieri | |
---|---|
135th Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico | |
Incumbent | |
Assumed office 12 January 2009[1] | |
Preceded by | Francisco Zayas Seijo |
Personal details | |
Born | 1950 (age 63–64) Bayamón, Puerto Rico |
Nationality | Puerto Rican |
Political party | New Progressive Party (PNP) |
Spouse(s) | Rafael Arturo Mateu Cintrón (former)[2] |
Children | 2 |
Profession | Politician, Dentist |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Website | Municipality of Ponce (Spanish) |
Dr. María Eloisa Meléndez Altieri (born in 1950), also known as Mayita, is the current mayor of the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. She was elected during the Puerto Rican general elections of 2008,[3] becoming the first woman elected to the office in Ponce's political history. She is also the first mayor of a party other than the Popular Democratic Party in Ponce since 1989, when Rafael Cordero Santiago became mayor. This is Mayita's second candidacy in politics on the island and her first electoral win. In the Puerto Rico's 2004 general election, Mayita presented her candidacy for a senatorial seat representing Puerto Rico's 5th district, but lost in her bid for the position.
Biography
Melendez Altieri was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.[4] She was the daughter of Eloísa Altieri Brau y José Luis Meléndez Mena. After graduating with a degree in dental medicine, she worked as a dental assistant until she established her own dental practice in Ponce.[5]
Works
Under her administration, construction of the $4.5 million Parque Ecológico Urbano (English: Urban Ecological Park) was started. She called the construction of the park one of the five "emblematic" projects of her administration.[6]
Another emblematic project of her administration is the Sistema Integrado de Transportación del Sur (SITRAS) (English: Southern Integrated Transportation System).[7]
The five emblematic projects are:
- 1) The aqueduct for the northern zone of the municipality of Ponce at $5 million
- 2) Sistema Integrado de Transportación del Sur (Sitras) mass transit, at $1.66 million the initial phase,
- 3) Parque Ecológico Urbano, at $4.5 million
- 4) Ciudad Deportiva at $4.5 million initially
- 5) The revitalization of the Juan Bigas Building (old Plaza del Mercado) to become "Ponce Servicios" at an undisclosed budget amount
The entire penta-project effort goes under the name "Ponce Avanza" and the permanent structures have an assignment of $177 million.[8]
References
- ↑ Mayita ofrece su mensaje de logros. El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 12 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- ↑ Avalan millonaria exención contributiva. Reinaldo Millán. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 2 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ↑ Alex Figueroa Cancel (2008-11-05). "Mayita se impone en Ponce". Primera Hora. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
- ↑ Históricas las elecciones en Ponce
- ↑ Celebridades del Sur y el país: Evocan con orgullo su primer empleo. Carmen Cila Rodríguez. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 1 September 2010. Year 28, No. 1396. Page 20. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
- ↑ Encaminados los trabajos del parque ecológico. El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 20 September 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
- ↑ Inversión millonaria en Ponce para el sistema de transporte colectivo. El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
- ↑ Municipio de Ponce con déficit menor . Michelle Estrada Torres. 31 May 2011. Primera Hora. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
External links
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by Francisco Zayas Seijo |
Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico 2009– |
Succeeded by Incumbent |