Alejandro García Padilla
Encyclopedia
Alejandro García Padilla (born August 3, 1971 on Coamo
, Puerto Rico
) is a Puerto Rican
Senator, President of the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
, and candidate for Governor of Puerto Rico
as of March 2011.
. He is the younger of six brothers. Two of his older brothers are Antonio García Padilla
(former President of the University of Puerto Rico
) and Juan Carlos García Padilla (current mayor of Coamo).
Alejandro studied high school at the Colegio Nuestra Señora de Valvanera in Coamo. After high school, he obtained his Bachelor's degree
in Political Science and Economics from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus
. He later earned a law degree from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
.
, contract law
, succession and property
law. He also worked as a a law professor at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
.
García Padilla also served as a Legislative aid for the Internal Affairs Commission, the Women Affairs, Agriculture, and others. He was also on the board of the Puerto Rico Bar Association
.
(known as DACO) under the government of Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
. During his time with DACO, García Padilla distinguished himself for carrying surprise inspections and being very vocal about the protection of the consumer.
, he was elected by the highest number of votes among all senatorial candidates. After the election, he has been elected to be the party speaker in several commissions (Government, Public Safety, Judicial Affairs, and others).
in 2012. He announced his candidacy for President of the Popular Democratic Party, running unopposed. He took office on April 4, 2011. On October 26, 2011, he named Rafael Cox Alomar
as his running mate for Resident Commissioner
, replacing Héctor Ferrer Ríos, who declared himself candidate for Mayor of San Juan.
, since April 7, 2001. They have three children: Ana, Juan Pablo, and Diego.
Coamo, Puerto Rico
Coamo is a municipality in Puerto Rico located in the southern region, north of Santa Isabel; south of Orocovis and Barranquitas; east of Villalba and Juana Díaz; and west of Aibonito and Salinas. Coamo is spread over 10 wards and Coamo Pueblo...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
) is a Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
Senator, President of the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth....
, and candidate for Governor of Puerto Rico
Governor of Puerto Rico
The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1948, the Governor has been elected by the people of Puerto Rico...
as of March 2011.
Early years and studies
Alejandro García Padilla was born on August 3, 1971 in CoamoCoamo, Puerto Rico
Coamo is a municipality in Puerto Rico located in the southern region, north of Santa Isabel; south of Orocovis and Barranquitas; east of Villalba and Juana Díaz; and west of Aibonito and Salinas. Coamo is spread over 10 wards and Coamo Pueblo...
. He is the younger of six brothers. Two of his older brothers are Antonio García Padilla
Antonio García Padilla
Antonio García Padilla is a Puerto Rican scholar born in Ponce, Puerto Rico in 1954. He was president of the University of Puerto Rico.-Training:...
(former President of the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
) and Juan Carlos García Padilla (current mayor of Coamo).
Alejandro studied high school at the Colegio Nuestra Señora de Valvanera in Coamo. After high school, he obtained his Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Political Science and Economics from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus
University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus
The University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras , also referred to as UPR-RP, is a public research university located on a campus in Río Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico...
. He later earned a law degree from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
The Inter American University of Puerto Rico —or Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico in Spanish, and often referred as "Inter"— is a private university system in Puerto Rico. It was founded in 1912 in San German, Puerto Rico. The University has campuses in Aguadilla, Arecibo, Barranquitas,...
.
Professional life
García Padilla began his law career working at Puerto Rico's Court of Appeals as a judicial officer. He then worked as a lawyer for various firms like Pedro Ortiz Álvarez, William Reyes Elías, Jorge R. Jiménez and Fernando Agrait. His specialty was mostly administrative lawAdministrative law
Administrative law is the body of law that governs the activities of administrative agencies of government. Government agency action can include rulemaking, adjudication, or the enforcement of a specific regulatory agenda. Administrative law is considered a branch of public law...
, contract law
Contract
A contract is an agreement entered into by two parties or more with the intention of creating a legal obligation, which may have elements in writing. Contracts can be made orally. The remedy for breach of contract can be "damages" or compensation of money. In equity, the remedy can be specific...
, succession and property
Property
Property is any physical or intangible entity that is owned by a person or jointly by a group of people or a legal entity like a corporation...
law. He also worked as a a law professor at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
The Inter American University of Puerto Rico —or Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico in Spanish, and often referred as "Inter"— is a private university system in Puerto Rico. It was founded in 1912 in San German, Puerto Rico. The University has campuses in Aguadilla, Arecibo, Barranquitas,...
.
García Padilla also served as a Legislative aid for the Internal Affairs Commission, the Women Affairs, Agriculture, and others. He was also on the board of the Puerto Rico Bar Association
Puerto Rico Bar Association
The Puerto Rico Bar Association or Colegio de Abogados de Puerto Rico was founded in the 19th century and has evolved into an organization in which until 2009; all practicing attorneys must have been members in order to practice law in the United States territory of Puerto Rico...
.
Secretary of Consumer Affairs: 2005-2007
In January 2005, García Padilla was confirmed as Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Consumer AffairsPuerto Rico Department of Consumer Affairs
The Puerto Rico Department of Consumer Affairs, was created by Law 5 of April 23, 1973 as a Cabinet-level successor to ASERCO, or Administration for Services to Consumers...
(known as DACO) under the government of Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
Aníbal Salvador Acevedo Vilá is a Puerto Rican politician and lawyer. He served as the eighth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a Commonwealth of the United States, from 2005 to 2009. He is a Harvard University alumnus and a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico School of Law,...
. During his time with DACO, García Padilla distinguished himself for carrying surprise inspections and being very vocal about the protection of the consumer.
Senator: 2007-present
In 2007, García Padilla resigned to his position in DACO and announced that he would run for Senator. On the 2008 general electionsPuerto Rican general election, 2008
The Puerto Rico general election of 2008, held on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 was the most recent election to select the Governor of Puerto Rico.The election was won by Luis G...
, he was elected by the highest number of votes among all senatorial candidates. After the election, he has been elected to be the party speaker in several commissions (Government, Public Safety, Judicial Affairs, and others).
Gubernatorial campaign
On March 6, 2011, García Padilla announced his plans to run for Governor of Puerto RicoGovernor of Puerto Rico
The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1948, the Governor has been elected by the people of Puerto Rico...
in 2012. He announced his candidacy for President of the Popular Democratic Party, running unopposed. He took office on April 4, 2011. On October 26, 2011, he named Rafael Cox Alomar
Rafael Cox Alomar
Rafael Cox Alomar is a Puerto Rican lawyer, academic, and candidate for Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico as of October 2011.- Early life :...
as his running mate for Resident Commissioner
Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico
The Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico is a non-voting member of the United States House of Representatives elected by the voters of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico every four years...
, replacing Héctor Ferrer Ríos, who declared himself candidate for Mayor of San Juan.
Personal life
García Padilla has been married to Wilma Pastrana, a CPACertified Public Accountant
Certified Public Accountant is the statutory title of qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification as a CPA...
, since April 7, 2001. They have three children: Ana, Juan Pablo, and Diego.