Marlese Sifre

Marlese Sifre Rodríguez is a Puerto Rican politician who has served as the mayor of Ponce since 2023. She previously worked in municipal government roles starting in 2000 and held the position of interim mayor before being elected to the office.

Early life and education Marlese Sifre Rodríguez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but was raised in Ponce. Her upbringing was significantly influenced by her mother, Anita Rodríguez, and her stepfather, Gilberto "Tito" Berenguer. She pursued a Bachelor of Criminal Justice at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico and her legal education at the Facultad de Derecho Eugenio Maria de Hostos, from which she graduated. During this period, she focused on fiscal responsibility, administrative restructuring, and maintaining municipal services.

During the 2024 Puerto Rican municipal elections, Sifre announced her candidacy for mayor after the Popular Democratic Party confirmed that the suspended mayor would not return. Her campaign emphasized economic development and housing initiatives, and in November 2024, she was elected mayor of Ponce. She assumes the office on January 13, 2025.

Personal life In 2007, Sifre underwent an emergency surgery to remove a tumor located in the fourth ventricle of her brain. She described the procedure as life-altering due to the potential risks associated with the condition.

Sifre is married to Juan Carlos Rivera Guillén, with whom she has one daughter. The family faced financial hardships during periods of reduced municipal budgets.