The town of Cataño is holding a special election on September 27 to choose a new mayor, following the death of Julio Alicea Vasallo in August. Five candidates are on the ballot: Hiram Torres Montalvo, Bethzaida Rodríguez, Félix Matías Rodríguez, Fernando 'Tato' Cintrón Mercado, and José Manuel Rodríguez Ocaña. Torres Montalvo, the current secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs, has proposed a 90-day plan and an economic development agenda.
Rodríguez, the widow of the late mayor, has campaigned on continuing her husband’s legacy. The election has been marked by debates between continuity and change, with Torres Montalvo and Rodríguez being the most prominent figures. Polls will be open from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and voters can cast their ballots at designated voting centers in precincts 008 and 009.
The winner will take over the administration of one of the most economically active municipalities in the metropolitan area, where various infrastructure, urban revitalization, and port development projects are underway.