In 1870, political parties were created for the first time and municipal officials were elected by the people at large, and the mayor, as well as the members of the municipal council, would belong to one of the two parties active, either the Partido Liberal Reformista or the Partido Incondicional Español.

In 2008, María "Mayita" Meléndez Altieri, from the New Progressive Party became the first woman elected to the office of mayor by the people of Ponce in its extensive political history.

Regardless of the different titles held, the people in this position were the maximum civil authority at the municipal level.

"Mayor", on the other hand, refers to a local executive, elected by the people, with administrative functions only.

Source: Eduardo Neumann Gandía,[4] Puerto Rico Encyclopedia,[5] and Neysa Rodríguez Deynes.