Diego MirandaMayor of Saint Josephincorporated the former leaders of the current government into his work team Jessica Martinez Porras and Dahianna Marin Chacon; as well as the former mayor of Moravia, Roberto Zoch Gutierrezwho came to that commune with the Citizen Action Party (PAC).
Martínez Porras served for 14 months as Minister of Housing and Human Settlements (Mivah) and executive president of the National Institute of Housing and Urban Planning (INVU), until he resigned in July 2023, after the scandal over the construction of the new Carthage Hospital.
For his part, Marín Chacón resigned from the administrative vice ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT), the previous March, after the dismissal of the minister Luis Amador. Experience weighed in the hiring of Martínez, Marín and Zoch, among other reasons, explained Mayor Miranda.
According to the mayor of San José, Martínez is the new Municipal Management Manager, area in charge of control and human development of the city; and Marín Chacón assumes the position of Service Provision Managerresponsible for ensuring that public services are provided with quality and efficiency to the inhabitants.
Zoch, for his part, is mayoral advisor on administrative and financial issues. Miranda explained that to form the team she developed an interview process with an important group of people and evaluated resumes.
For example, the hiring of Martínez, the mayor indicated, arose from a recommendation from several people. “She participated in the interviews and we finally made the decision that she met the profile,” Miranda explained.
Regarding the former mayor of Moravia, Miranda added that his approach occurred during the time he was a councilor in the Municipality of San José, as well as during the electoral campaign.
Diego Miranda added that the former vice minister of the MOPT has experience in the public sector in terms of contracting and in “other aspects” that “interested” her.
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Jéssica Martínez, 48, is an urban architect and specialist in land markets and policies. She resigned from the government on the previous July 4. She was one of the officials involved in the case of the land to build the new Cartago Hospital, a project that was stopped by President Rodrigo Chaves on May 25, 2023, due to documents that referred to another lot.
Diego Miranda Jéssica Martínez Porras, former Minister of Housing; Dahianna Marín Chacón, former vice minister of the MOPT; and Roberto Zoch Gutiérrez, former mayor of Moravia; They joined the team of the new mayor of San José, Diego Miranda.
After the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) reported the error, Martínez defended the president, arguing that, although it was another property, it had similar conditions and reiterated that it was not suitable for the medical center.
Leaves MOPT after Amador’s dismissal
Dahianna Marín Chacón, 37, resigned last March, after serving for a year as vice minister of administration and Strategic Management. She had been appointed in February 2023, during Luis Amador’s administration.
She was dismissed a few days after President Chaves pointed out that Amador was politically responsible for a ¢21,000 million contract considered “tailor-made” for the construction company. DUMBwhich was tasked with repairing the Liberia runway.
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Former mayor with ‘impeccable record’
Zoch, for his part, has a degree in Business Administration and a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Informatics. Before winning the mayoralty of Moravia in 2016, he was a councilor who owned the PAC in said municipality.
For the 2020 municipal elections he joined the We Are Moravia Party, with which he obtained a second mandate. He could not aspire to a third consecutive term, in 2024, due to a law that eliminated indefinite reelection for these officials.
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“I have an impeccable record,” the former mayor responded when asked about criminal and administrative complaints that he received against him during the 2020 campaign, as well as one filed for the construction of his house in early 2024, by the then councilor. Angie Quiros.
Miranda added that, at the time of interviewing him, Zoch told him about several complaints that have been dismissed, some sanctions reversed and that as of today there are no charges against him.
Diego Miranda team The mayor of San José, Diego Miranda (sitting in the center), with his work team. To his right is Yariela Quirós Álvarez, first vice mayor; and former vice minister Dahianna Marín Chacón, manager of Service Provision. To the left of the mayor, Fernando Vega Guillén, second vice mayor, poses; and former minister Jéssica Martínez Porras, manager of Municipal Management. Standing third from left to right, appears former mayor Roberto Zoch Gutiérrez. Photo: Municipality of San José
The new San José mayoral team 2024-2028 is as follows:
–Diego Miranda Mendezmayor.
–Yariela Quirós Álvarezfirst vice mayor.
–Fernando Vega Guillénsecond vice mayor.
–Jessica Martínez PorrasMunicipal Management Manager.
–Dahianna Marin ChaconService Provision manager.
–Huberth Méndez HernándezDeputy Manager of Service Provision.
–Roberto Zoch Gutierrezmayoral advisor.
–Dioni Céspedes Bolañosadvisor to the mayor.
–Ricardo Villegas Acuñaadvisor to the mayor.
–Nancy Mena Gutierrezassistant to the mayor.
–Luis Vega Camposmayoral assistant.
–Sonia Contreras Cascalesmayoral assistant.
–Dalilah Amador Villalobosadvisor to the vice mayor’s office.
