Gender : Female
Carmen Medina Calderón
Biography
Carmen Medina Calderón was born on August 18, 1981, in the municipality of San Juan. She was a product of the public school system, where two of her great passions emerged: education and sports. From her early years, she excelled in athletics, particularly in speed and jumping events, as well as in the discipline of Taekwondo, and for her academic work. She participated in the traditional University Athletic League Games for four years, representing the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. She earned a Master’s degree in Physical Education from the Metropolitan University of Puerto Rico, Cupey Campus. She also holds another Master’s degree in School Administration and Supervision from Caribbean University, Carolina Campus. She obtained her Doctoral degree from Southeastern University, San Juan Campus, in Educational Technology and Distance Education. Her dissertation, Self-Efficacy of Physical Education Teachers and Its Relationship with Competence in Integrating Technology in the Classroom, was one of the most distinguished at the aforementioned university.
She has worked as a Physical Education Supervisor in the Humacao Educational Region, attached to the Department of Education, where she planned and coordinated academic, sports, and administrative activities for all schools in that region. She also served as a Physical Education teacher at elementary and high school levels and as a School Director III, a role she performed with great success, distinguished by her flexible and detailed organization of all teaching activities in the school.
As an athlete, Medina Calderón has served as a Recreational Leader for the Municipality of Loíza, where he developed activities with recreational associations and institutions that work with special populations, among other activities, to enhance the recreational experience of citizens.
On November 5, 2024, she was elected Representative for District Number 37, which includes the municipalities of Loíza, Río Grande, and Canóvanas. She was appointed to chair the Eastern Region Committee of the House of Representatives.
Estrella Martínez Soto
Biography
Estrella Martínez Soto, born on August 8, 1979, in Juana Díaz, is a public servant with more than 20 years of experience in community service. A native of Juana Díaz with previous residences in Salinas and Santa Isabel, she has experienced firsthand the needs of the four municipalities she represents: Aibonito, Coamo, Juana Díaz, and Santa Isabel.
Married to educator Pedro J. Ortiz Rivera and mother to Fabiola and Camille, Estrella is a clear example of commitment and resilience, also evidenced by her personal experience as a cancer survivor, which has reinforced her vocation to serve and defend vulnerable communities.
A graduate of Luis Llorens Torres High School in Juana Díaz, she earned her Bachelor of Arts and Humanities degree in Public Administration from the Pontifical Catholic University of Ponce in 2001. She subsequently completed a Master of Public Administration degree with a concentration in Government Program Management from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. She is currently completing her second Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Management from PUCPR, in addition to earning a certification as a Conflict Mediator.
Before entering legislative politics, Estrella held various positions in public service. She began as a student intern in the Department of Consumer Affairs, worked in the Office of Special Communities, served as a Regional Supervisor, and later held positions of increasing responsibility in community development. During the Salinas municipal administration, she was appointed Director of Human Resources, leading the municipality’s organizational restructuring.
From 2014 to 2016, she supported legislative work as a director in the offices of prominent representatives, and from 2017 to 2020, she led PR Integral Consulting LLC, offering administrative consulting and training services.
In November 2020, after one of the most atypical electoral campaigns in recent political history, she was elected Representative for District 27 and took office in January 2021. In January 2025, she was sworn in for her second term.
Legislative Management
During her first four-year term in the Puerto Rico Legislature, Representative Martínez Soto has demonstrated a firm commitment to:
- Consumer protection.
- Strengthening the rights of caregivers, older adults, and women.
- Oversight to ensure essential services to vulnerable populations.
In addition to these initiatives, she has promoted other projects and actively participated in debates and committees, reaffirming her role as a watchdog and promoter of community organizing, especially in south-central Puerto Rico.
Commitment and Vision
Estrella Martínez Soto enters the legislature with the firm conviction of sowing hope and generating positive changes for her constituents. Her experience in public service, combined with her track record in human resources management and her personal struggle, position her as a tireless advocate for:
- The rights of special communities.
- Women’s struggles.
- Transparency in public administration.
Her legislative work is geared toward building a future in which the care, protection, and well-being of all citizens are fundamental priorities.
Swanny E. Vargas Laureano
María de Lourdes Ramos Rivera
Biography
She was born on August 6 in the town of Juncos. She graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a concentration in Executive Secretarial. Regarding her work experience, she began working at the Municipality of Juncos as Secretary of the Municipal Assembly. In 1993, she was appointed by Dr. Pedro Rosselló as Commissioner of the Commission on Women’s Affairs, Office of the Governor. On March 26, 1996, she was sworn in as Representative at Large, becoming the first woman from Junqueña to achieve that position, having obtained the highest number of votes on the island.
In 1997, the Municipality of Carolina and the Citizen Action Committee awarded him the “Jesús T. Piñeiro” award. She held the position of Alternate Spokesperson for the New Progressive Party delegation from 2005 to 2008. She has led the Retirement Commission for several four-year terms, defending the rights of the most vulnerable: pensioners and public servants. She chaired other committees such as Women’s Affairs, Veterans Affairs, and Ethics. In January 2017, she became the first woman to serve as Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives. Currently, she continues as a Representative by Accumulation.
