Eugenio Munizaga

Eugnenio Munizaga Rodríguez (6 April 1941 – 11 May 2018) was a Chilean politician who served as a deputy and mayor of La Serena.

Biography He was born on 6 April 1941 in La Serena, the son of Gustavo Ernesto Munizaga Pérez de Arce and Sara Elena Rodríguez. He married María Gabriela Vargas, with whom he had three children.

He completed his primary and secondary education at the Liceo de Hombres Gregorio Cordovez of La Serena.

After finishing school, he entered the Faculty of Education Sciences of the University of Chile, Valparaíso campus, where he studied History Education.

Although he completed his university studies, from 1966 onward he devoted himself to agriculture, the field in which he developed most of his professional activities.

His first position was as general administrator of Pisco Tres Cruces.

Between 1973 and 1976, he was member of the Council of the Cooperativa Agrícola Control Pisquero de Elqui Ltda. He later became founding partner and President of the Association of Agricultural Export Producers of the Fourth Region.

In 1985, he was elected Director of the Executive Committee of the Regional Council of the Confederation of Production and Commerce, serving for one year. He was also member of the National Commission on Wine, Liquors and Pisco.

In 1986, after resigning as mayor of La Serena, he returned as General Manager of the Cooperativa Agrícola Control Pisquero de Elqui.

Political career He began his political activities in 1977 when he was appointed Mayor of the La Serena.

Among his main initiatives was the reformulation of the "Plan Serena", created by President Gabriel González Videla, which contributed to preserving and enhancing the city’s characteristic urban environment. As mayor, he is remembered for initiating the Avenida del Mar, restoring Parque Gabriel Coll and Parque Pedro de Valdivia, La Revoca, and building numerous public squares.

In 1997, he ran for the Senate for Circumscription No. 4, Coquimbo Region, but was not elected, obtaining 15.65% of the total vote.

He died on 11 May 2018 in La Serena.