From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2002 Costa Rican municipal elections
Municipal and local elections were held for the first time in Costa Rica on 1 December 2002. This was the first time citizens of the 81 cantons were able to directly choose their mayors as previously the municipal executive was appointed by the city council.[ 2] A syndic and 4 District Councilors were also elected for each canton’s district as 8 intendants for especial districts with administrative autonomy.
Then ruling Social Christian Unity Party had its best results in history on a local election gaining most of the mayors and councilors; 48 mayors and 785 syndics and councilors.[ 2] National Liberation Party , then main opposition force, earn the second largest number of both with 27 mayors and 676.[ 2] Costa Rica was still pretty much under a two-party system at the time even when in the recent general election the new force Citizens Action Party surprised with high voting for president and parliament, in this first municipal running achieve only one mayor in Montes de Oca (the party’s hometown).[ 2]
List of elected mayors by canton
Cantons
Population
Elected mayor
Party
San José
309,672
Johnny Araya
PLN
Escazú
52,372
Marco Antonio Segura
PLN
Desamparados
193,478
Carlos Alberto Padilla
PLN
Puriscal
29,407
Carlos Araya
PUSC
Tarrazú
14,160
José Rodolfo Naranjo
PUSC
Aserrí
57,892
Mario Morales
PLN
Mora
21,666
Alcides Ovidio Araya
PLN
Goicoechea
117,532
Carlos Luis Murillo
PUSC
Santa Ana
48,879
Rónald Octavio Traña
PUSC
Alajuelita
70,297
Víctor Hugo Echavarría
PUSC
Vázquez de Coronado
55,585
Rolando Méndez
PUSC
Acosta
18,661
Rónald Ricardo Durán
PLN
Tibás
72,074
Percy Kenneth Rodríguez
PUSC
Moravia
50,419
Alejandro Hidalgo
PLN
Montes de Oca
50,433
Sonia María Montero
PAC
Turrubares
4,877
Roberto González
PUSC
Dota
6,519
Mario Enrique Umaña
PLN
Curridabat
60,889
Luz de los Ángeles Retana
CSXXI
Pérez Zeledón
122,187
Rosibel Ramos
PUSC
León Cortés
11,696
Sergio Picado
PUSC
Alajuela
222,853
Fabio Molina
PLN
San Ramón
67,975
Osvaldo Vargas
PUSC
Grecia
65,119
Freddy Barrantes
PUSC
San Mateo
5,343
Erwen Yanán Masís
PUSC
Atenas
22,479
Wilberth Martín Aguilar
PUSC
Naranjo
37,602
Mario Bolívar Solís
PLN
Palmares
29,766
Mario Alberto Rojas
PUSC
Poás
24,764
Carlos Eduardo Soto
PLN
Orotina
15,705
José Joaquín Peraza
PUSC
San Carlos
127,140
Alfredo Córdoba
PLN
Alfaro Ruiz
10,845
Manuel Enrique Durán
PUSC
Valverde Vega
16,239
Víctor Manuel Rojas
PUSC
Upala
37,679
Juan Bosco Acevedo
PLN
Los Chiles
19,732
Santiago Millón
PLN
Guatuso
13,045
Carlos Luis Corrales
PUSC
Cartago
132,057
Harold Humberto Góngora
PUSC
Paraíso
52,393
Marvin Solano
PAPAR
La Unión
80,279
Guillermo Arturo Zúñiga
PIO
Jiménez
14,046
Jorge Humberto Solano
PLN
Turrialba
68,510
Marvin Gerardo Orocú
PUSC
Alvarado
12,290
Ángel Raquel López
PLN
Oreamuno
39,032
Gerardo Walter Granados
PUSC
El Guarco
33,788
Luis Rafael Flores
PUSC
Heredia
103,894
Javier Carvajal
PUSC
Barva
32,440
Omar Enrique Trigueros
PUSC
Santo Domingo
34,748
Erika Lizette Linares
PLN
Santa Bárbara
29,181
Luis Paulino Rodríguez
PUSC
San Rafael
37,293
Jorge Isaac Herrera
PLN
San Isidro
16,056
Elvia Dicciana Villalobos
PLN
Belén
19,834
Víctor Manuel Víquez
PLN
Flores
15,038
Marvin Murillo
PUSC
San Pablo
20,813
Aracelly Salas
PUSC
Sarapiquí
57,147
Pedro Rojas
PLN
Liberia
46,703
Ricardo Adolfo Samper
PLN
Nicoya
42,189
Bernardo Vargas
PLN
Santa Cruz
40,821
Pastor Gómez
PUSC
Bagaces
15,972
Guillermo Aragón
PUSC
Carrillo
27,306
José María Guevara
PUSC
Cañas
24,076
Gilberto Jerez
PLN
Abangares
16,276
Víctor Julio Cabezas
PUSC
Tilarán
17,871
Jovel Arias
PUSC
Nandayure
9,985
Luis Gerardo Rodríguez
PGI
La Cruz
16,505
Junnier Alberto Salazar
PUSC
Hojancha
6,534
Juan Rafael Marín
PLN
Puntarenas
102,504
Omar Obando
PUSC
Esparza
23,963
Dagoberto Venegas
PUSC
Buenos Aires
40,139
Giovanni Fallas
PUSC
Montes de Oro
11,159
Álvaro Jiménez
PLN
Osa
25,861
José Gabriel Villachica
PUSC
Aguirre
20,188
Alex Max Contreras
PUSC
Golfito
33,823
Mauricio Alvarado
PUSC
Coto Brus
40,082
Gerardo Wilson Chaves
PUSC
Parrita
12,112
Ramón Fernando Godínez
PUSC
Corredores
37,274
Augusto César Moya
PUSC
Garabito
10,378
Luis Fernando Villalobos
PUSC
Limón
89,933
Róger Mainor Rivera
PUSC
Pococí
103,121
Manuel Hernández
PUSC
Siquirres
52,409
Miguel Gerardo Quirós
PUSC
Talamanca
25,857
Rugeli Morales
PUSC
Matina
33,096
Rodrigo Gómez
PRC
Guácimo
34,879
Gerardo Fuentes
PLN
Vote percentage
PUSC (36.72%)
PLN (32.78%)
PAC (12.84%)
Cantonal parties (5.77%)
ML (4.02%)
PRC (3.02%)
FD (1.29%)
PIO (0.95%)
C2000 (0.83%)
PRESNA (0.68%)
PIN (0.61%)
Other (0.49%)
Party
Mayors
Popular vote
Number
Votes
%
Social Christian Unity Party
47
188,612
36,72
National Liberation Party
28
168,410
32,78
Citizens' Action Party
1
65,968
12.84
Total cantonal parties
2
30,273
5.77
Libertarian Movement
0
20,655
4.02
Costa Rican Renewal Party
1
15,497
3.02
Democratic Force
0
6,606
1.29
Independent Workers' Party
1
4,904
0.95
Coalition Change 2000
0
4,272
0.83
National Rescue Party
0
3,488
0.68
National Integration Party
0
3,119
0.61
Independent Guanacaste Party
1
1,259
0.25
Agrarian Labour Action Party
0
569
0.11
Cartago Agrarian Union Party
0
532
0.10
General Union Party
0
96
0.02
Total
81
514,260
100%
Source[ 3]
By province
Province
PUSC %
PLN %
PAC %
Reg. %
ML %
PRC %
FD %
PIO %
C2000 %
PRESNA %
PIN %
San José Province
29.90
35.12
13.57
12.50
3.66
1.05
1.36
1.46
0.82
0.25
0.31
Alajuela
39.04
38.79
11.46
1.26
2.77
1.30
-
-
1.03
2.74
1.61
Cartago Province
37.35
31.03
14.43
7.75
1.52
-
3.06
4.58
-
-
0.28
Heredia
34.33
34.07
17.65
3.69
3.74
4.08
-
0.35
0.36
-
1.73
Guanacaste
42.84
29.13
11.97
3.41
3.00
7.06
2.07
-
0.36
0.16
-
Puntarenas
46.07
24.96
11.94
3.43
8.63
2.75
1.44
-
0.78
-
-
Limón
36.11
24.68
9.19
4.72
7.40
13.06
2.12
-
2.72
-
-
Total
36.72
32.78
12.84
6.26
4.02
3.02
1.29
0.95
0.83
0.68
0.61
Source: TSE
The elections of municipal councilors of Costa Rica in 2002 were an electoral process held in parallel with the presidential and legislative elections. In them the 495 tenure aldermen and the 495 alternates that conform the 81 Municipal Councils were chosen.
The Central Canton of San José , the most populous, named 13 aldermen. Desamparados and Alajuela named 11. Others less populated (Puntarenas , Limón , Pococí , Heredia , Cartago , La Unión , San Carlos , Goicoechea , Pérez Zeledón , etc.) named 9. Others even smaller (Tibás , Grecia , Vázquez de Coronado , Montes de Oca , Siquirres , Escazú , Turrialba , etc.) appointed 7 council members. Finally, the smallest (Turrubares , San Mateo , Santa Ana , Mora , Montes de Oro , Talamanca , etc.) named 5.
Parties
Popular vote
Alderpeople
Votes
%
±pp
Total
+/-
Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC)
469,305
30.92
-9.94
180
-91
National Liberation Party (PLN)
443,320
29.21
-6.17
178
-48
Citizens' Action Party (PAC)
310,201
20.44
New
101
New
Libertarian Movement (ML)
84,167
5.55
+3.12
13
+9
Costa Rican Renewal Party (PRC)
54,547
3.59
+1.73
7
+7
Democratic Force (FD)
40,114
2.64
-3.53
4
-20
National Integration Party (PIN)
25,038
1.65
-0.08
1
-2
Coalition Change 2000 (C2000)
17,612
1.16
New
1
New
Agrarian Labour Action Party (PALA)
9,225
0.61
-0.49
2
-5
Escazu's Progressive Yoke (YPE)
7,765
0.51
-0.19
3
-1
National Rescue Party (PRESNA)
7,510
0.49
-0.33
1
New
Independent Workers' Party (PIO)
7,460
0.49
New
1
New
National Agrarian Party (PAN)
5,032
0.33
-0.24
1
-4
Party of the Sun (PdS)
4,880
0.32
+0.06
2
0
Cartago Agrarian Force (FAC)
4,024
0.27
+0.09
0
New
21st Century Curridabat (CSXXI)
3,726
0.25
-0.12
1
-1
Authentic Paraisian Party (PAPAR)
3,264
0.22
New
1
New
National Convergence Party (PCN)
2,927
0.19
-0.10
0
-1
General Union Party (PUG)
2,495
0.16
-0.83
0
-3
Quepeña Action Party (PAQ)
1,956
0.13
New
2
New
Authentic Sarapiquenean Party (PASAR)
1,779
0.12
New
1
New
New Alajuelita Party (PALNU)
1,773
0.12
+0.02
1
0
Humanist Party of Montes de Oca (PH-MdO)
1,212
0.08
-0.06
0
-1
Alliance for San José Party (PASJ)
1,127
0.07
New
0
New
Cantonal Action Independent Siquirres Party (PACSI)
1,079
0.07
New
0
New
Ecological Garabito Party (PEG)
983
0.06
New
2
New
Humanist Party of San José (PH-SJO)
919
0.06
New
0
New
Golfitenean Action Party (PAGOL)
772
0.05
-0.00
0
0
Independent Guanacaste Party (PGI)
759
0.05
-0.14
0
-2
Independent Belemite Party (PIB)
618
0.04
-0.06
0
-1
Limonense Conscience Party (PCL)
617
0.04
New
0
New
Humanist Party of Heredia (PH-Her)
517
0.03
-0.05
0
0
National Patriotic Party (PPN)
485
0.03
New
0
New
New Corredores Party (PUG)
457
0.03
New
0
New
Humanist Party of Barva (PH-Barva)
183
0.01
New
0
New
Total
1,517,848
100.00
-
503
-75
Invalid votes
51,628
3.29
Votes cast / turnout
1,569,476
68.84
Abstentions
710,375
31.16
Registered voters
2,279,851
100%
Sources[ 4]
Syndics and district councils [ edit ]
Syndics
PUSC
49.24%
PLN
41.47%
PAC
3.02%
Regionalist
3.02%
ML
0.86%
PRC
0.86%
PIO
0.86%
C2000
0.22%
PIN
0.22%
PRESNA
0.22%
District councillors
PUSC
43.10%
PLN
36.89%
PAC
9.82%
Regionalist
3.67%
PRC
2.59%
ML
1.40%
PIO
0.81%
PRESNA
0.59%
C2000
0.38%
PIN
0.32%
Parties and coalitions
Popular vote
Syndics
District Councillors
Votes
%
Total
+/-
Total
Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC)
184,902
36.85
228
-67
799
National Liberation Party (PLN)
169,660
33.81
192
+47
684
Citizens' Action Party (PAC)
63,270
12.61
14
New
182
Libertarian Movement (ML)
16,367
3.26
4
+4
26
Costa Rican Renewal Party (PRC)
15,665
3.21
4
+4
48
Democratic Force (FD)
6,539
1.30
0
0
8
Coalition Change 2000 (C2000)
4,797
0.96
1
New
7
Independent Workers' Party (PIO)
4,444
0.89
4
New
15
Alliance to Advance Party (PAPA)
4,421
0.88
0
New
5
Alliance for San José Party (PASJ)
4,037
0.80
0
New
3
Authentic Paraisian Party (PAPAR)
3,586
0.71
2
New
6
National Integration Party (PIN)
3,189
0.64
1
+1
6
Escazu's Progressive Yoke (YPE)
2,670
0.53
1
-2
4
National Rescue Party (PRESNA)
2,354
0.47
1
+1
11
Party of the Sun (PdS)
1,844
0.37
2
0
8
Cantonal Action Independent Siquirres Party (PACSI)
1,652
0.33
2
New
7
We Are All San José Party (SJST)
1,651
0.33
0
New
1
21st Century Curridabat (CSXXI)
1,412
0.28
2
+1
4
Independent Guanacaste Party (PGI)
1,181
0.24
2
+2
9
Authentic Sarapiquenean Party (PASAR)
978
0.19
2
New
9
Quepeña Action Party (PAQ)
941
0.19
0
New
3
Change Now (CYA)
833
0.17
0
New
0
Ecological Garabito Party (PEG)
819
0.16
1
New
3
Authentic Cantonal Option Movement (MOCA)
692
0.14
0
New
0
Curridabat Movement (MCur)
642
0.13
0
New
1
Agrarian Labour Action Party (PALA)
544
0.11
0
-2
3
Independent Belemite Party (PIB)
532
0.11
0
0
1
Cartago Agrarian Union Party (PUAC)
503
0.10
0
0
0
Santacrucean Rebirth Party (PRS)
490
0.10
0
New
0
Humanist Party of Montes de Oca (PH-MdO)
394
0.08
0
0
1
New Corredores Party (PUG)
288
0.06
0
New
1
Limonense Conscience Party (PCL)
256
0.05
0
New
0
Humanist Party of Heredia (PH-Her)
125
0.02
0
0
0
General Union Party (PUGEN)
62
0.01
0
0
0
Total
500,080
100.00
463
+16
1854
Invalid votes
20,803
3.98
Votes cast / turnout
520,883
22.64
Abstentions
1,785,510
77.36
Registered voters
2,306,393
Sources[ 5]