The 2006 Costa Rica local elections were held on December 3, 2006. In the February 2006 general elections , Costa Rica elected president , vice-presidents , deputies of the Legislative Assembly and municipal councilors in the general elections. The December 2006 elections were held to elect cantonal mayors , members of the District Councils of each of the nation’s districts and intendants of eight special autonomous districts and islands.
2006 Costa Rican municipal elections
The ruling National Liberation Party won most of the seats and mayors with 59 as the seven provincial capitals. The main opposition party, Citizens' Action Party , was unsuccessful in keep the support it had in the presidential election. In the February 2006 elections, this party had almost tied the PLN. The Social Christian Unity Party become the second largest force at municipal level. Libertarian Movement achieved it first ever municipal government. Additionally, three local parties were successful in Curridabat , Aguirre and Siquirres .
List of elected mayors by canton
Cantons
Population
Incumbent mayor
Party
Elected mayor
Party
San José
309,672
Johnny Araya
PLN
Johnny Araya
PLN
Escazú
52,372
Marco Antonio Segura
PLN
Marco Antonio Segura
PLN
Desamparados
193,478
Carlos Alberto Padilla
PLN
Maureen Fallas
PLN
Puriscal
29,407
Carlos Araya
PUSC
Jorge Luis Chaves
PLN
Tarrazú
14,160
José Rodolfo Naranjo
PUSC
Iván Saurez
PLN
Aserrí
57,892
Mario Morales
PLN
Mario Morales
PLN
Mora
21,666
Alcides Ovidio Araya
PLN
Gilberto Monge
PLN
Goicoechea
117,532
Carlos Luis Murillo
PUSC
Óscar Enrique Figueroa
PLN
Santa Ana
48,879
Rónald Octavio Traña
PUSC
Gerardo Oviedo
PLN
Alajuelita
70,297
Víctor Hugo Echavarría
PUSC
Tomás Poblador
PLN
Vázquez de Coronado
55,585
Rolando Méndez
PUSC
Leonardo Herrera
PLN
Acosta
18,661
Rónald Ricardo Durán
PLN
Rónald Ricardo Durán
PLN
Tibás
72,074
Percy Kenneth Rodríguez
PUSC
Jorge Antonio Salas
PAC
Moravia
50,419
Alejandro Hidalgo
PLN
Edgar Vargas
PAC
Montes de Oca
50,433
Sonia María Montero
PAC
Fernando Trejos
UpC
Turrubares
4,877
Roberto González
PUSC
Rafael Vindas
PUSC
Dota
6,519
Mario Enrique Umaña
PLN
José Valverde
PLN
Curridabat
60,889
Luz de los Ángeles Retana
CSXXI
Edgar Eduardo Mora
CSXXI
Pérez Zeledón
122,187
Rosibel Ramos
PUSC
Rosibel Ramos
PUSC
León Cortés
11,696
Sergio Picado
PUSC
Leonardo Quesada
PLN
Alajuela
222,853
Fabio Molina
PLN
Joyce Mary Zurcher
PLN
San Ramón
67,975
Osvaldo Vargas
PUSC
Raúl Antonio Gómez
PLN
Grecia
65,119
Freddy Barrantes
PUSC
Giovanny Arguedas
PLN
San Mateo
5,343
Erwen Yanán Masís
PUSC
Erwen Yanán Masís
PUSC
Atenas
22,479
Wilberth Martín Aguilar
PUSC
Wilberth Martín Aguilar
PUSC
Naranjo
37,602
Mario Bolívar Solís
PLN
Eugenio Padilla
PLN
Palmares
29,766
Mario Alberto Rojas
PUSC
Luis Carlos Castillo
PLN
Poás
24,764
Carlos Eduardo Soto
PUSC
José Joaquín Brenes
PLN
Orotina
15,705
José Joaquín Peraza
PUSC
Emilio Jesús Rodríguez
PLN
San Carlos
127,140
Alfredo Córdoba
PLN
Alfredo Córdoba
PLN
Alfaro Ruiz
10,845
Manuel Enrique Durán
PUSC
Marco Vinicio Rodríguez
PLN
Valverde Vega
16,239
Víctor Manuel Rojas
PUSC
Víctor Manuel Rojas
PUSC
Upala
37,679
Juan Bosco Acevedo
PLN
Juan Bosco Acevedo
PLN
Los Chiles
19,732
Santiago Millón
PLN
Santiago Millón
PLN
Guatuso
13,045
Carlos Luis Corrales
PUSC
Fidel Condega
PLN
Cartago
132,057
Harold Humberto Góngora
PUSC
Rolando Alberto Rodríguez
PLN
Paraíso
52,393
Marvin Solano
PAPAR
Marvin Solano
ML
La Unión
80,279
Guillermo Arturo Zúñiga
PIO
Julio Antonio Rojas
PLN
Jiménez
14,046
Jorge Humberto Solano
PLN
Jorge Humberto Solano
PLN
Turrialba
68,510
Marvin Gerardo Orocú
PUSC
Luis Alfonso Pérez
PLN
Alvarado
12,290
Ángel Raquel López
PLN
Ángel Raquel López
PLN
Oreamuno
39,032
Gerardo Walter Granados
PUSC
Marco Vinicio Redondo
PAC
El Guarco
33,788
Luis Rafael Flores
PUSC
William Adolfo Cerdas
PLN
Heredia
103,894
Javier Carvajal
PUSC
José Manuel Ulate
PLN
Barva
32,440
Omar Enrique Trigueros
PUSC
Mercedes Hernández
PLN
Santo Domingo
34,748
Erika Lizette Linares
PLN
Raúl Isidro Bolaños
PLN
Santa Bárbara
29,181
Luis Paulino Rodríguez
PUSC
Rolando Hidalgo
PLN
San Rafael
37,293
Jorge Isaac Herrera
PLN
Alberto Vargas
PAC
San Isidro
16,056
Elvia Dicciana Villalobos
PLN
Elvia Dicciana Villalobos
PLN
Belén
19,834
Víctor Manuel Víquez
PLN
Horacio Alvarado
PUSC
Flores
15,038
Marvin Murillo
PUSC
Jenny Alfaro
PAC
San Pablo
20,813
Aracelly Salas
PUSC
Aracelly Salas
PUSC
Sarapiquí
57,147
Pedro Rojas
PLN
Pedro Rojas
PLN
Liberia
46,703
Ricardo Adolfo Samper
PLN
Carlos Luis Marín
PLN
Nicoya
42,189
Bernardo Vargas
PLN
Lorenzo Rosales
PLN
Santa Cruz
40,821
Pastor Gómez
PUSC
Jorge Enrique Chavarría
PLN
Bagaces
15,972
Guillermo Aragón
PUSC
Luis Ángel Rojas
PLN
Carrillo
27,306
José María Guevara
PUSC
Carlos Gerardo Cantillo
PLN
Cañas
24,076
Gilberto Jerez
PLN
Katia María Solórzano
PLN
Abangares
16,276
Víctor Julio Cabezas
PUSC
Jorge Calvo
PLN
Tilarán
17,871
Jovel Arias
PUSC
Jovel Arias
PUSC
Nandayure
9,985
Luis Gerardo Rodríguez
PGI
Luis Gerardo Rodríguez
PUN
La Cruz
16,505
Junnier Alberto Salazar
PUSC
Carlos Matías Gonzaga
PLN
Hojancha
6,534
Juan Rafael Marín
PLN
Juan Rafael Marín
PLN
Puntarenas
102,504
Omar Obando
PUSC
Agne Gómez
PLN
Esparza
23,963
Dagoberto Venegas
PUSC
Dagoberto Venegas
PUSC
Buenos Aires
40,139
Giovanni Fallas
PUSC
Primo Feliciano Álvarez
PLN
Montes de Oro
11,159
Álvaro Jiménez
PLN
Álvaro Jiménez
PLN
Osa
25,861
José Gabriel Villachica
PUSC
Jorge Alberto Cole
PLN
Aguirre
20,188
Alex Max Contreras
PUSC
Óscar Octavio Monge
OLA
Golfito
33,823
Mauricio Alvarado
PUSC
Jimmy José Cubillo
PLN
Coto Brus
40,082
Gerardo Wilson Chaves
PUSC
Rafael Ángel Navarro
PUSC
Parrita
12,112
Ramón Fernando Rodríguez
PUSC
Gerardo Roger Acuña
PLN
Corredores
37,274
Augusto César Moya
PUSC
Gerardo Ramírez
PLN
Garabito
10,378
Luis Fernando Villalobos
PUSC
Marvin Elizondo
PLN
Limón
89,933
Róger Mainor Rivera
PUSC
Eduardo Barboza
PLN
Pococí
103,121
Manuel Hernández
PUSC
Enrique Alfaro
PLN
Siquirres
52,409
Miguel Gerardo Quirós
PUSC
Edgar Cambronero
PACSI
Talamanca
25,857
Rugeli Morales
PUSC
Rugeli Morales
PUSC
Matina
33,096
Rodrigo Gómez
PRC
Lorenzo Colphan
PLN
Guácimo
34,879
Gerardo Fuentes
PLN
Gerardo Fuentes
PLN
Vote percentage
PLN (45.87%)
PUSC (17.68%)
PAC (14.64%)
ML (5.63%)
Cantonal parties (5.29%)
PUN (2.66%)
UpC (2.50%)
PRC (1.63%)
PIN (1.41%)
Other (2.69%)
Party
Mayors
Popular vote
Number
Change
Votes
%
National Liberation Party
59
31
277,589
45.87
Social Christian Unity Party
11
36
107,007
17.68
Citizens' Action Party
5
4
88,630
14.64
Libertarian Movement
1
1
34,073
5.63
Total cantonal parties
3
1
31,408
5.19
National Union Party
1
New
16,101
2.66
Union for Change Party
1
New
15,107
2.50
Costa Rican Renewal Party
0
1
9,883
1.63
National Integration Party
0
8,516
1.41
Independent Guanacaste Party
0
1
6,925
1.14
Green Ecologist Party
0
New
3,265
0.54
Democratic Force
0
2,827
0.47
National Rescue Party
0
1,609
0.27
Democratic Nationalist Alliance
0
New
1,132
0.19
Broad Front
0
New
502
0.08
Homeland First Party
0
New
297
0.05
People's Vanguard Party
0
New
245
0.04
Agrarian Labour Action Party
0
79
0.01
Total
81
602,755
100%
Source[ 2]
By province
Province
PLN %
PUSC %
PAC %
ML %
Reg. %
PUN %
UpC %
PRC %
PIN %
FD %
PRESNA %
ADN %
PPP %
PVP %
San José Province
45.59
16.64
16.60
2.95
9.62
1.75
2.26
0.32
4.27
-
-
-
-
-
Alajuela
55.41
11.17
17.77
4.60
5.32
1.49
3.65
0.59
-
-
-
-
-
-
Cartago Province
44.06
18.04
12.47
11.32
6.32
5.60
2.19
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Heredia
43.76
20.88
21.49
2.23
4.54
0.75
3.82
1.93
0.46
-
-
-
-
0.14
Guanacaste
43.19
14.69
9.54
2.98
11.41
8.41
4.03
0.71
-
2.41
0.76
1.87
-
-
Puntarenas
43.30
27.03
8.76
6.19
3.70
1.50
-
8.45
0.63
-
-
-
0.44
-
Limón
34.93
24.46
9.07
16.50
4.06
1.53
0.87
2.83
0.30
2.77
2.34
-
-
0.34
Total
45.87
17.68
14.64
5.63
6.95
2.66
2.50
1.64
1.41
0.47
0.27
0.19
0.05
0.04
Source: TSE
The elections of municipal councilors of Costa Rica in 2006 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.
Alderpeople
National Liberation
45.60%
Citizens' Action
27.80%
Social Christian Unity
11.80%
Libertarian Movement
7.20%
Regionalist
6.80%
National Union
0.60%
Union for Change
0.20%
Parties
Popular vote
Alderpeople
Votes
%
±pp
Total
+/-
National Liberation Party (PLN)
585,809
36.41
+7.20
228
+50
Citizens' Action Party (PAC)
394,854
24.54
+4.10
139
+38
Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC)
143,008
8.89
-22.03
59
-121
Libertarian Movement (ML)
135,148
8.40
+2.85
36
+49
Costa Rican Renewal Party (PRC)
50,416
3.13
-0.46
4
-3
Union for Change Party (UpC)
45,885
2.85
New
1
New
National Union Party (PUN)
42,853
2.66
New
3
New
National Restoration Party (PREN)
22,579
1.40
New
2
New
Homeland First Party (PPP)
19,326
1.20
New
0
New
Democratic Nationalist Alliance (ADN)
14,982
0.93
New
0
New
National Integration Party (PIN)
14,162
0.88
-0.77
0
-1
Democratic Force (FD)
13,912
0.86
-1.78
0
-4
Patriotic Union (UP)
13,075
0.81
New
0
New
Cartago Agrarian Union Party (PUAC)
9,029
0.56
+0.56
2
+2
Agrarian Labour Action Party (PALA)
8,979
0.56
-0.05
3
+1
Broad Front (FA)
8,068
0.50
New
0
New
Independent Guanacaste Party (PGI)
6,536
0.41
+0.36
2
+2
Escazu's Progressive Yoke (YPE)
6,116
0.38
-0.13
2
-1
United Left Coalition (IU)
6,108
0.38
New
0
New
21st Century Curridabat (CSXXI)
5,643
0.35
+0.10
2
+1
Authentic Heredian Party (PAH)
5,479
0.34
New
0
New
Alajuelense Democratic Action (PADA)
5,357
0.33
+0.33
0
New
Palmarenean Union Party (PUPal)
5,015
0.31
New
2
New
Provincial Integration Three Party (PIP-3)
4,425
0.28
New
0
New
Party of the Sun (PdS)
3,999
0.25
-0.07
2
0
Goicoechea in Action Party (PGEA)
3,536
0.22
New
0
New
Authentic Labourer of Coronado Party (PALABRA)
3,098
0.19
New
1
New
Green Ecologist Party (PVE)
3,070
0.19
New
0
New
Progressive Moravia Party (PMP)
2,929
0.18
New
1
New
The Bridge and Paths of Mora (PYCM)
2,815
0.17
New
2
New
Communal Pro-Curri Party (PCPC)
2,664
0.17
New
1
New
New Alajuelita Party (PALNU)
2,076
0.13
+0.01
1
0
Cantonal Action Independent Siquirres Party (PACSI)
1,870
0.12
+0.05
1
+1
Cartago Agrarian Force (FAC)
1,735
0.11
-0.16
0
New
Workers' and Peasants' Movement (MTC)
1,718
0.11
New
0
New
Desamparadenean Communal Force Party (FCD)
1,676
0.10
New
0
New
Authentic Sarapiquenean Party (PASAR)
1,460
0.09
-0.03
1
0
Quepeña Action Party (PAQ)
1,452
0.09
-0.04
2
0
Independent Belemite Party (PIB)
1,303
0.08
+0.04
1
+1
Authentic Turrialban Cartago Party (PATC)
1,217
0.08
New
0
New
Humanist Party of Heredia (PH-Her)
1,047
0.07
+0.05
0
0
Humanist Party of Montes de Oca (PH-MdO)
986
0.06
-0.02
0
-1
Autonomous Oromontan Party (PAO)
859
0.05
New
1
New
Authentic Pilaric Party (PAUPI)
830
0.05
New
0
New
Ecological Garabito Party (PEG)
770
0.05
-0.01
1
-2
Alliance for San José Party (PASJ)
542
0.03
-0.05
0
New
Aguirre Labour Organization Party (OLA)
505
0.03
New
0
New
New Feminist League Party (NLF)
79
0.01
New
0
New
Total
1,609,000
100.00
-
500
-3
Invalid votes
53,796
3.24
Votes cast / turnout
1,662,796
65.19
Abstentions
887,817
34.81
Registered voters
2,550,613
100%
Sources[ 3]
Municipal councils, syndics, district councils
edit
Syndics
PLN
72.65%
PUSC
14.10%
PAC
4.70%
Regionalist
3.42%
ML
1.92%
PUN
1.92%
UpC
0.64%
PIN
0.43%
PRC
0.21%
District councillors
PLN
50.11%
PUSC
19.19%
PAC
14.66%
Regionalist
6.29%
ML
3.78%
PUN
2.24%
UpC
1.71%
PIN
1.01%
PRC
1.01%
Parties and coalitions
Popular vote
Syndics
District Councillors
Votes
%
±pp
Total
+/-
Total
+/-
National Liberation Party (PLN)
268,944
45.17
+11.36
340
+148
940
+256
Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC)
106,488
17.89
-18.96
66
-162
360
-439
Citizens' Action Party (PAC)
95,427
16.03
+3.42
22
+8
275
+93
Libertarian Movement (ML)
33,069
5.55
+2.29
9
+5
71
+45
Union for Change Party (UpC)
13,684
2.30
New
3
New
32
New
National Union Party (PUN)
12,325
2.07
New
9
New
42
New
Costa Rican Renewal Party (PRC)
9,516
1.60
-1.61
1
-3
19
-29
National Integration Party (PIN)
7,863
1.32
+0.68
2
+1
19
+13
Independent Guanacaste Party (PGI)
6,912
1.16
+0.92
1
-1
21
+12
Ramonense Solidarity Party (PSRa)
3,903
0.66
New
3
New
17
New
Escazu's Progressive Yoke (YPE)
3,629
0.61
+0.08
1
0
5
+1
21st Century Curridabat (CSXXI)
3,322
0.56
+0.28
4
+2
8
+4
Green Ecologist Party (PVE)
3,275
0.55
New
0
New
5
New
Palmarenean Union Party (PUPal)
2,286
0.38
New
0
New
9
New
Party of the Sun (PdS)
2,059
0.35
-0.02
0
-2
6
-2
Democratic Force (FD)
1,988
0.33
-0.97
0
0
1
-7
Goicoechea in Action Party (PGEA)
1,936
0.33
New
0
New
4
New
Cantonal Action Independent Siquirres Party (PACSI)
1,914
0.32
-0.01
1
-1
7
0
Barbarenean Integration Party (PINBAR)
1,801
0.30
New
2
New
10
New
The Bridge and Paths of Mora (PYCM)
1,539
0.26
New
1
New
6
New
Alliance for San José Party (PASJ)
1,490
0.25
-0.55
0
0
0
-3
Aguirre Labour Organization Party (OLA)
1,381
0.23
New
2
New
4
New
Communal Pro-Curri Party (PCPC)
1,032
0.17
New
0
New
2
New
Broad Front (FA)
855
0.14
New
0
New
1
New
Belemite Independent Party (PIB)
724
0.12
+0.01
0
0
1
0
New Alajuelita Party (PANUAL)
717
0.12
New
0
New
1
New
Quepeña Action Party (PAQ)
676
0.11
-0.08
0
0
2
-1
Authentic Turrialban Cartago Party (PATC)
597
0.10
New
0
New
0
New
Desamparadenean Communal Force Party (FCD)
549
0.09
New
0
New
0
New
Authentic Santaneño Party (PAUSA)
544
0.09
New
0
New
1
New
Authentic Labourer of Coronado Party (PALABRA)
543
0.09
New
0
New
0
New
Humanist Party of Montes de Oca (PH-MdO)
539
0.09
+0.01
0
0
0
-1
Party of the People and for the People (PPPP)
521
0.09
New
0
New
0
New
National Rescue Party (PRESNA)
517
0.09
-0.38
0
-1
1
-10
Provincial Integration Three Party (PIP-3)
511
0.09
New
1
New
3
New
Authentic Pilaric Party (PAUPI)
459
0.08
New
0
New
1
New
Democratic Nationalist Alliance (ADN)
417
0.07
New
0
New
2
New
Autonomous Oromontan Party (PAO)
417
0.07
New
0
New
0
New
Homeland First Party (PPP)
268
0.05
New
0
New
0
New
Poaseña Union Party (PUNPO)
241
0.04
New
0
New
0
New
People's Vanguard Party (PVP)
198
0.03
New
0
New
0
New
Progressive Moravia Party (PMP)
169
0.03
New
0
New
0
New
Agrarian Labour Action Party (PALA)
101
0.02
-0.09
0
New
0
-3
Total
592,927
100.00
468
+5
1876
+22
Invalid votes
17,452
2.85
-1.09
Votes cast / turnout
610,379
23.61
+0.97
Abstentions
1,983,117
76.39
Registered voters
2,593,496
Sources[ 4]