In 1984, he defeated the candidate from the PPD by a narrow margin for the position of Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico.

In the interim, Ruben Quinones, the Ponce Municipal Secretary, was the acting mayor.

[1] In 1988, Dapena Thompson was "named an unindicted co-conspirator" of embezzlement of federal funds from HUD.

[3] Ivan Ayala Cadiz, former assistant dean at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law, finished off Dapena Thompson's last few weeks' mayoral term.

[4] Dapena Thompson lived in Ponce and worked with his grandson,David Antonio, as of counsel and notary.