Mayors in Puerto Rico

Last updated
Mayor
Style The Honorable
Term length 4 years
Formationseveral laws that were repealed in favor of the Autonomous Municipalities Act of 1991

The mayors of Puerto Rico encompass the different mayors of the municipalities of Puerto Rico; each mayor being the highest-ranking officer of their corresponding municipality. Several laws existed that created the post of mayor in each municipality but they were all repealed in favor of a broad and encompassing law known as the Autonomous Municipalities Act of 1991. [1]

Contents

The mayors do not constitute a body, and are not required by law to do so, [1] but they have voluntarily assembled into two organizations:

Each mayor is also the commander-in-chief of its corresponding municipal police. [7]

Background

Historically mayors used to be minor political figures in the Puerto Rican landscape as the executive branch of the government of Puerto Rico exerted an overarching authority over the municipalities. [8] [9] However, in recent years, the executive branch has adopted a decentralized form of government and started to focus on statewide politics rather than on local or regional ones. [8] [9] These policies have granted a high degree of autonomy to its municipalities and their mayors, [8] [10] and has allowed certain highly populated municipalities with robust local economies —such as Caguas [11] and San Juan [12] — to prosper and exercise a high degree of autonomy, while leaving others with mild or little population —such as Florida [13] and Moca [14] — with challenges to overcome. Nevertheless, these policies have made mayors highly influential on the local, regional, and statewide economy of Puerto Rico, as well as in its politics and society. [15] An example of this would be the Willie Tax which was implemented independently in Caguas by its former mayor, William Miranda Marín. [16] [17] The tax was subsequently adopted by other municipalities and eventually evolved into the statewide sales tax known as the Puerto Rico Sales and Use Tax (IVU). [18] [19]

Today, mayors have become strong political stewardesses [20] [21] and anchors for other politicians seeking support from the citizens living in their municipalities. [22] It has also become increasingly common to involve and discuss political matters with the mayors, their assemblies, and the organizations to which they belong to, before implementing public policies, and approving or vetoing bills. [23] [24] Both the mayors and the central government of Puerto Rico, including the Governor and the Legislative Assembly, have been able to work in unison and symbiotically to up bring Puerto Rico and its municipalities. [10] [23] [25]

The Puerto Rico Mayors Association was founded in 1949 by Felisa Rincón de Gautier. [26] The Puerto Rico Mayors Federationwas founded in 1968 by Carlos Romero Barceló as the Federation of Municipalities of Puerto Rico. The president of the Federation as of 2017 is Carlos Molina Rodríguez, after succeeding Hector O'Neill. [27]

Duties and powers

Mayors in Puerto Rico have the following duties:

Requirements

The law states the following requirements to be a mayor in Puerto Rico. The candidate must: [28]

Removal from office

According to an amend signed in 2006, a mayor in Puerto Rico can be removed from office for the following reasons: [29]

To determine the latter, any person can present charges against a mayor in front of a committee, which will then evaluate them and submit a verdict.

Election

Like most political positions in Puerto Rico, mayors are elected every four years in a general election. Voters registered as residents of each municipality vote for their respective mayors. As of now, there is no limit in terms for mayors.

Mayors 2021–2025

There are currently 41 mayors affiliated with the Popular Democratic Party (PPD), 36 are affiliated with the New Progressive Party (PNP), and 1 affiliated with Project Dignity (PD). The longest tenured current mayor in the Commonwealth is the mayor of Dorado, Carlos López Rivera. López has been serving as mayor since being elected in 1987. The current term ends in January 2025, following the 2024 general election.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caguas, Puerto Rico</span> City and municipality in Puerto Rico

Caguas is a city and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range of Puerto Rico, south of San Juan and Trujillo Alto, west of Gurabo and San Lorenzo, and east of Aguas Buenas, Cidra, and Cayey. Caguas was founded in 1775. The municipality had a population of 127,244 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humacao, Puerto Rico</span> City and municipality in Puerto Rico

Humacao is a city and municipality in Puerto Rico located in the eastern coast of the island, north of Yabucoa; south of Naguabo; east of Las Piedras; and west of Vieques Passage. Humacao is spread over 12 barrios and Humacao Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The municipalities of Puerto Rico are the second-level administrative divisions in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. There are 78 such administrative divisions covering all 78 incorporated towns and cities. Each municipality is led by a mayor and divided into barrios, third-level administrative divisions, though the latter are not vested with any political authority. Every municipality is governed as stated by the Autonomous Municipalities Act of 1991, which establishes that every municipality must have an elected strong mayor with a municipal legislature as the form of government. Each legislature must be unicameral, with the number of members related to adequate representation of the total population of the municipality. In contrast to other jurisdictions, both the mayors and the municipal legislators are elected on the same date and for the same term of four years in office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carolina, Puerto Rico</span> City and municipality in Puerto Rico

Carolina is a city and municipality located on the northeast coast of Puerto Rico. It lies immediately east of the capital San Juan and Trujillo Alto; north of Gurabo and Juncos; and west of Canóvanas and Loíza. Carolina is spread over 12 barrios plus Carolina Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area, and home to Puerto Rico's main airport, the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guaynabo, Puerto Rico</span> City and municipality in Puerto Rico

Guaynabo is a city, suburb of San Juan and municipality in the northern part of Puerto Rico, located in the northern coast of the island, north of Aguas Buenas, south of Cataño, east of Bayamón, and west of San Juan. Guaynabo is spread over 9 barrios and Guaynabo Pueblo. Guaynabo is considered, along with its neighbors – San Juan and the municipalities of Bayamón, Carolina, Cataño, Trujillo Alto, and Toa Baja – to be part of the San Juan metropolitan area. It is also part of the larger San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area,.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gurabo, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

Gurabo is a town and municipality in eastern Puerto Rico. It is located in the central eastern region, north of San Lorenzo; south of Trujillo Alto; east of Caguas; and west of Carolina and Juncos. Gurabo is spread over 9 barrios and Gurabo Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yabucoa, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

Yabucoa is a town and municipality in Puerto Rico located in the eastern region, north of Maunabo; south of San Lorenzo, Las Piedras and Humacao; and east of Patillas. Yabucoa is spread over 9 barrios and Yabucoa Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camuy, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

Camuy is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Lares and San Sebastián; east of Quebradillas; and west of Hatillo. Camuy is spread over 12 barrios and Camuy Pueblo. The town celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

Aguas Buenas,, popularly known as "La Ciudad de las Aguas Claras" or "The City of Clear Waters", is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range, north of Cidra, south of Bayamón, Guaynabo and San Juan; east of Comerio; and north-west of Caguas. Aguas Buenas is spread over 9 barrios and Aguas Buenas Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barceloneta, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

Barceloneta is a town and municipality in Puerto Rico located in the north region, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Florida, east of Arecibo, and west of Manatí. Barceloneta is spread over 3 barrios and Barceloneta Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comerío, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

Comerío is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico in the center-eastern region of island, north of Aibonito; south of Naranjito and Bayamón; east of Barranquitas; and west of Cidra and Aguas Buenas. Comerío is spread over 7 barrios and Comerío Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morovis, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

Morovis is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central region of the island, north of Orocovis, south of Manatí, Vega Baja and Vega Alta; east of Ciales, and west of Corozal. Morovis is spread over 13 barrios and Morovis Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naguabo, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

Naguabo is a town and municipality in Puerto Rico located in the east coast of the island bordered by the Vieques Passage, north of Humacao; south of Río Grande and Ceiba; and east of Las Piedras. Naguabo is spread over 8 barrios and Naguabo Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Río Grande, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

Río Grande is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located on the eastern edge of the Northern Coastal Valley, north of Las Piedras, Naguabo and Ceiba; east of Loíza and Canóvanas and west of Luquillo. Río Grande is spread over eight barrios and Río Grande Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area. A big portion of El Yunque National Forest, including El Yunque's peak, is located within the municipality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toa Baja, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

Toa Baja is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the northern coast, north of Toa Alta and Bayamón; east of Dorado; and west of Cataño. Toa Baja is spread over five barrios, including Toa Baja Pueblo. Toa Baja is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area. Toa Baja is located fifteen minutes by car from San Juan and two hours from Ponce.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

Trujillo Alto is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Northern Coastal Plain, on the boundary between the karst zone and Sierra de Luquillo, north of Caguas, and Gurabo; southeast of San Juan, and west of Carolina. Trujillo Alto is part of the San Juan Metropolitan Area, which includes the municipalities of Bayamón, Guaynabo, Cataño, and Toa Baja. The city is spread over 6 barrios and Trujillo Alto Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quebradillas, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality of Puerto Rico

Quebradillas is a town and municipality of the island of Puerto Rico located in the northern shore bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of San Sebastián; east of Isabela; and west of Camuy. Quebradillas is spread over seven barrios and Quebradillas Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The barrios of Puerto Rico are the primary legal divisions of the seventy-eight municipalities of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico's 78 municipios are divided into geographical sections called barrios and, as of 2010, there were 902 of them. In the US Census a barrio sometimes includes a division called a comunidad or subbarrio. In Puerto Rico, barrios are composed of sectors. The types of sectors (sectores) may vary, from normally sector to urbanización to reparto to barriada to residencial, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sovereigntism (Puerto Rico)</span> Movement to achieve sovereignty

The free association movement in Puerto Rico refers to initiatives throughout the history of Puerto Rico aimed at changing the current political status of Puerto Rico to that of a sovereign freely associated state. Locally, the term soberanista refers to someone that seeks to redefine the relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States to that of a compact with full sovereignty. The term is mostly used in reference to those that support a compact of free association or a variation of this formula, commonly known as Estado Libre Asociado (ELA) Soberano, between Puerto Rico and the United States. Members of the independence movement that are willing to pursue alliances with this ideology are occasionally referred to as such, but are mostly known as independentistas. Consequently, soberanismo then became the local name for the free association movement.

Heriberto Vélez Vélez is a Puerto Rican politician and the current mayor of Quebradillas. Vélez is affiliated with the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) and has served as mayor since 2005.

References

  1. 1 2 "Law No. 81 of 1991" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2012-11-29.
  2. ↑ "Hon. Pedro R. Pierluisi | Puerto Rico". Pierluisi.house.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  3. ↑ "2009 DTS 102 ASOCIACION DE ALCALDES V. EL CONTRALOR DE P.R. 2009TSPR102 Jurisprudencia del Tribunal Supremo de P.R. de 2009". Lexjuris.com. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  4. ↑ "Home - El Nuevo Día". Elnuevodia.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  5. ↑ Vocero.com. "Federación de Alcaldes celebra su tercera convención – Vocero de Puerto Rico". Vocero.com. Archived from the original on 2012-06-26. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  6. ↑ "Ejecutivo municipal de Camuy es el nuevo presidente de la Federación de Alcaldes". Telemundo Puerto Rico (in Spanish). December 12, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  7. ↑ "LEX2000". Lexjuris.com. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  8. 1 2 3 "Derechoupr.com" (PDF). Derechoupr.com. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  9. 1 2 "CAMARA DE REPRESENTANTES : P. de la C. 1057" (DOC). Oslpr.org. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  10. 1 2 "LEXRCS2007104 Enmienda Constitucional para elevar a Rango Constitucional la Autonomía Municipal". Lexjuris.com. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  11. ↑ "Municipio Caguas recibe premio nacional por excelencia en finanzas". Elperiodicopr.com. 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  12. ↑ "Municipio de San Juan : INDICADORES SOCIOECONÓMICOS" (PDF). Ocpr.gov.pr. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  13. ↑ "Municipio de Florida : INDICADORES SOCIOECONÓMICOS" (PDF). Ocpr.gov.pr. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  14. ↑ "Municipio de Moca : INDICADORES SOCIOECONÓMICOS" (PDF). Ocpr.gov.pr. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  15. ↑ "Los alcaldes más poderosos - El Nuevo Día". Elnuevodia.com. 2012-11-15. Archived from the original on 2013-01-21. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  16. ↑ Casiano Communications (2011-07-12). "Remembering Willie Miranda Marín - Caribbean Business". Caribbeanbusinesspr.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  17. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-06-30. Retrieved 2012-11-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-03-19. Retrieved 2012-11-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. ↑ "Página no encontrada - Departamento de Hacienda de Puerto Rico" (PDF). Hacienda.gobierno.pr. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  20. ↑ "BSNF busca apoyo del Alcalde de Mayagüez : EnVivoPR.Com / Noticias y Tecnología". Envivopr.com. 2011-07-12. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  21. ↑ "Jaime Perelló está seguro de que será el presidente de la Cámara". Primerahora.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-20. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  22. ↑ "AGP resalta la obra del Alcalde de Villalba durante su recorrido con la Ola de la Gente". 18norte66oeste.com. 2012-09-24. Archived from the original on 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  23. 1 2 "Progress - Federacion de Alcaldes". Fedalcaldes.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  24. ↑ [ permanent dead link ]
  25. ↑ Vocero.com. "Orientan a nuevos alcaldes sobre transición – Vocero de Puerto Rico". Vocero.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-20. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  26. ↑ "Historia de la Asociación de Alcades de Puerto Rico" (in Spanish). Puerto Rico Mayors Association. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  27. ↑ Irizarry Álvarez, Femmy (February 1, 2017). "Carlos Molina es el nuevo presidente de la Federación de Alcaldes". Primera Hora (in Spanish). Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  28. ↑ "Ley de Municipios Autónomos de Puerto Rico" (PDF). Gobierno.pr.
  29. ↑ "Cámara de Representantes, P. de la C. 2684" (PDF). Camaraderepresentantes.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-12.
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