Raúl Alcaíno
Raúl Alcaíno | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Santiago | |
| In office 6 December 2004 – 6 December 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Joaquín Lavín |
| Succeeded by | Pablo Zalaquett |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 June 1953 |
| Party | Independent (aligned with Alianza por Chile) |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Chile |
| Occupation | Politician, Television host |
| Profession | Civil Industrial Engineer |
Raúl Abraham Alcaíno Lihn (born 24 June 1953) is a Chilean civil industrial engineer, businessman, television host and politician.[1] He served as Mayor of Santiago from 2004 to 2008, as an independent aligned with the Alianza por Chile coalition.[1]
He fought one of the most emblematic battles of the 2004 Chilean municipal elections, when, supported by his predecessor Joaquín Lavín, he narrowly defeated Jorge Schaulsohn of the PPD.[1]
Early life
Alcaíno is the son of engineer Raúl Alcaíno Silva, former mayor of San Miguel (and son of engineer and politician Abraham Alcaíno Fernández, Minister of Public Works and Communications under President Juan Antonio Ríos from 1943 to 1944),[2] and Nieves Lihn Carrasco, sister of poet Enrique Lihn.
He studied at the German School of Santiago until 1968, then joined the Arturo Prat Naval Academy for two years, before enrolling in the School of Engineering at the University of Chile, graduating as a Civil Industrial Engineer in 1979.[1]
Marriage and children
Alcaíno has been married twice. From his first marriage to Esperanza Cueto he had three daughters: Esperanza, Nieves and Elisa. Since 2009, he has been married to journalist Carmen Gloria López.[1]
Professional career
He co-founded the construction company Resiter Ltda. with businessman Álvaro Fischer, later forming Resiter y Cía., dedicated to environmental waste management, alongside ventures in real estate. He also partnered with physicians to establish Clínica Las Nieves, serving as its administrator for two years.
He has served as Director of the Institute of Engineers of Chile, Counselor of the Colegio de Ingenieros de Chile, President of its Industrial Division, Director of Chile before the Pan American Union of Engineers (UPADI), President of the Valle Escondido Golf Club, and Director of LAN Chile.[1]
As a businessman, he has participated in companies such as Rister Argentina S.A., Resinas y Terpenos Rister S.A., Azul Asesorías Ltda., Sociedad de Inversores VAR-CO Ltda. and Inversiones Casablanca. He has also been Director of Transportes Clima Ltda., Factoring SMB, the Balmaceda Cultural Center, and President of Sandrico S.A. and Le Grand Chic Ltda.[1]
He has received the award for Best Industrial Engineer from the Colegio de Ingenieros de Chile, and the Entrepreneur of the Year award from Fundación Chile.[1]
Television
In 1991, Alcaíno began a long television career, first on La Red, then on Canal 13, hosting programs such as Noche de ronda and El lunes sin falta, and later on Chilevisión, where he hosted Amigas y Amigos.[3]
Political career
In 2004, Alcaíno ran as an independent candidate for mayor of Santiago within the Alianza por Chile coalition, supported by then-incumbent Joaquín Lavín.[1] The race, described by Lavín as "the mother of all battles," was particularly intense given Santiago’s emblematic status. The Concertación eventually nominated Jorge Schaulsohn after internal disputes. Alcaíno won by a narrow margin, marking a significant victory for the opposition coalition.[4]
One of his closest collaborators was future mayor Felipe Alessandri.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Filippi, Emilio (2006). La clase política chilena (I ed.). Pehuén. ISBN 978-956-16-0411-7. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
- ^ Valencia Avaria, Luis (1986). Anales de la República: registros de los ciudadanos que han integrado los Poderes Ejecutivo y Legislativo (2nd ed.). Santiago, Chile: Editorial Andrés Bello.
- ^ El Mostrador (25 May 2004). "Raúl Alcaíno: "Me da pudor hacer campaña puerta a puerta"". Retrieved 6 April 2013.
- ^ IPS: González, Gustavo (1 November 2004). "Victorias del oficialismo y la izquierda". Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013.