Jose Dapena Thompson

José Dapena Thompson
Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico
In office 1984–1988
Preceded by	José G. Tormos Vega
Succeeded by	Iván Ayala Cádiz
Personal details
Born	ca. 1938 Ponce, Puerto Rico
Alma mater	University of Salamanca, Spain
Profession	Lawyer, Politician

José Joaquin Dapena Thompson (born ca. 1938), known as Josito, was a Puerto Rican politician and Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico from 1986 to 1988.

Dapena graduated from the University of Salamanca, Spain, in 1965. He practiced law in the island until he got involved in politics. In 1984, he defeated the candidate from the PPD by a narrow margin for the position of Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico.

Dapena Thompson became mayor of Ponce on 22 February 1984 upon the resignation as mayor of Jose G. Tormos Vega on that day. Later, in October of that year, he became bona fide mayor via the electoral vote. In the interim, Ruben Quinones, the Ponce Municipal Secretary, was the acting mayor. He was mayor until Ivan Ayala Cadiz assumed the mayoral post in December 1987 via nomination of the New Progressive Party. Ayala Cadiz was mayor until January 1989.

In 1988, Dapena Thompson was charged as co-author of embezzlement of federal funds from HUD. As a result, he resigned as mayor. Ivan Ayala Cadiz, former dean at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law, finished off Dapena Thompson's last few weeks' mayoral term.

Dapena Thompson lived in Florida and worked with his son, José Dapena, as of counsel and notary. He has also served as legal advisor to senator Larry Seilhamer.

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