The town halls of Tilarán, Carrillo, and Hojancha will be occupied by women after the municipal elections in the 84 cantons of the country, a process that has reserved several surprises in the province of Guanacaste.
In an unexpected result for many, the lawyer and pharmacist from the University of Costa Rica, Diana Méndez, dethroned the Liberación Nacional party, which had dominated this territory at will for 20 years. Méndez obtained – in the last count of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) – 3,123 votes, ahead of the Liberación Nacional candidate, Luis Carlos Rivas (2,581).
The winner from the Social Democratic Progress Party reached the highest position in the Carrillo municipality with a political proposal that emphasized transparency and accountability, but also on job creation through support for the development of a marina project at Playas del Coco, which would create about 3,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Carrillo is the fifth canton of the province of Guanacaste in Costa Rica. The canton covers an area of 577.54 km² and has a population of about 40,000 inhabitants.
Diana Cecilia Méndez Masís is an emblematic figure in the field of health and social sciences in Costa Rica, with a distinguished career marked by her dedication to improving public health services.
Born on August 7, 1962, she has consolidated her reputation thanks to solid academic training and extensive professional experience, mainly within the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), where ethics, respect, and integrity are the pillars of her professional approach.
Over the years, Diana has held several leadership positions within the CCSS, including as the director of the pharmacy service, where she has accumulated 35 years of experience. She pioneered the implementation of innovative projects, such as the mandatory social service of pharmaceutical care for the elderly and the management of pharmacy services accessible 24 hours a day. Her work has not only improved access to medicines as an essential human right but has also contributed to strategic initiatives for distributing solutions for peritoneal dialysis patients.
In addition to her role at the CCSS, Diana has been involved in political and social projects, serving as a general coordinator for political campaigns at the local level and participating in forums and seminars on law, public health, and health service management. She has also contributed to technical studies on the impact of glyphosate on chronic kidney diseases and worked to improve the quality of pharmaceutical services across the country.
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