María Meléndez

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Meléndez and the second or maternal family name is Altieri.

María Meléndez Altieri
Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico
In office 12 January 2009[1] – Incumbent
Preceded by	Francisco Zayas Seijo
Personal details
Born	1950 (age 60–61) Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Nationality	American
Political party	New Progressive Party (PNP)
Children	2
Profession	Politician, Dentist
Religion	Roman Catholic
Website	Municipality of Ponce (Spanish)

Dr. María Eloisa Meléndez Altieri, 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,^[2] 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.^[3] 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.^[4]

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.^[5]

Another emblematic project of her administration is the Sistema Integrado de Transportación del Sur (SITRAS) (English: Southern Integrated Transportation System).^[6] The five emblematic projects are: (1) The acueduct for the northern zone of the municipality of Ponce at $5 millions, (2) Sistema Integrado de Transportación del Sur (Sitras) mass transit, at $1.66 million the initial phase, (3)Parque Ecológico Urbano, at $4.5 millions, (4) Ciudad Deportiva at $4.5 millions initially, and (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.^[7]

References

1. ^ Mayita ofrece su mensaje de logros. El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 12 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
2. ^ Alex Figueroa Cancel (2008-11-05). "Mayita se impone en Ponce". Primera Hora. http://www.primerahora.com/noticia/politica/noticias/mayita_proxima_a_declarar_la_victoria_en_ponce/245547. Retrieved 2009-02-18. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ Históricas las elecciones en Ponce
4. ^ 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.
5. ^ Encaminados los trabajos del parque ecológico. El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 20 September 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
6. ^ 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.
7. ^ Municipio de Ponce con déficit menor . Michelle Estrada Torres. 31 May 2011. Primera Hora. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 7 October 2011.

External links

• Ponce website

Political offices
Preceded by Francisco Zayas Seijo	Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico 2009–	Succeeded by Incumbent

Persondata
Name	Melendez Altieri, Maria
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1950
Place of birth	Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Date of death
Place of death