political_party: New Progressive Party

Biography

President

Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Núñez is a native of the Municipality of Fajardo, where he attended elementary school at St. James the Apostle School and high school at the public school Dr. Santiago Veve Calzada, where he graduated with honors.

In 1982, he completed, with honors, a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Labor Relations, along with a minor in Business Administration from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. That same year, he began studies leading to a law degree — Juris Doctor — at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, which he obtained in 1986. Through the Training and Employment Program, he entered the workforce in 1986 in the municipality of San Juan.

In 1987, he began working in the Legal Division of the Puerto Rico Medical Services Administration (ASEM). Two years later, he was recruited by the Mayor of Fajardo, Aníbal Meléndez, as Director of the Office of Federal Affairs, and together they began the transformation of the municipality into what is now known as the “Metropolis of the East.” He served in various positions in the municipal administration until, in 1997, the Board of Mayors of the Northeast Consortium appointed him Executive Director, a position he held until 2004, when he was elected a member of

the House of Representatives for District Number 36, which comprises the municipalities of Río Grande, Luquillo, Fajardo, Ceiba, Vieques, and Culebra.

During that four-year term, he was appointed President of the Labor and Labor Relations Commission of the House of Representatives. During his presidency of the Labor Relations Commission, numerous measures were approved that benefited Puerto Rican workers, such as the increase of the Christmas Bonus and the new salary scale for nurses in Puerto Rico.

In 2008, he was re-elected to his seat. For the 2009-2012 term, he was appointed President of the Government Commission of the Legislative Body. During his presidency of the Government Commission, he was responsible for evaluating and approving legislation that establishes the public policy of the Government of Puerto Rico. He also served as Vice President of the Labor and Labor Relations Commission and the Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs Commission. Additionally, he was a member of the Municipal Affairs, Integrated Development of the Eastern Region, Health, and Public Safety Commissions.

Starting February 25, 2011, he was elected by his peers as Majority Whip of the New Progressive Party in the House of Representatives, a position he held alongside the Presidency of the Calendar and Special Debate Rules Commission, in addition to his responsibilities as President of the Government Commission. During the 2013 to 2016 term, he stood out as an ex-officio member of the commissions, serving as Alternate Whip of his delegation.

After being re-elected in the 2016 general elections, he was chosen by the members of his delegation as the President of the House of Representatives, a position to which he was sworn in on the

January 9, 2017, receiving the support of the majority of the members comprising the Legislative Body. He was re-elected again in the 2020 elections, becoming the Whip of the New Progressive Party delegation for the 2021 to 2024 term.

Among the projects and resolutions that became law during his presidency are Law 61-2018, better known as the “New Adoption Law for Puerto Rico,” an initiative that facilitates the adoption of minors. This new law dramatically reduced the number of children waiting for adoption from 345 to less than 70 in just three years. Also outlined was the transformation of Puerto Rico’s electrical system through Law 17-2019, known as the “Puerto Rico Energy Public Policy Act,” which obligates that citizens have access to energy systems that will help lower electricity costs in their homes and businesses, aiming for 40 percent of locally produced energy to be renewable by 2025, and for a complete phase-out of petroleum and coal by 2050.

In November 2024, he was elected to his seat as Representative for District Number 36. Once again, he was selected by the members of the House of Representatives to preside over the legislative body, becoming only the twelfth legislator in the nation to hold the Speaker position on two separate occasions.

Biography

Representative Ángel R. Peña Ramírez was born on April 13, 1978, in Hato Rey, and resides in the Municipality of Las Piedras.

Peña Ramírez holds a Bachelor’s degree in Labor Relations from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, and a Master’s degree in Labor Relations from the Interamerican University, Metropolitan Campus.

During his professional career, he has gained experience working in both the private sector and the public sphere. He worked in the Human Resources Division of Wyndham International, Hotel El Conquistador in Fajardo, and in 2005, he served as Executive Officer 1 in the Human Resources Office of the Senate of Puerto Rico.

In the political realm, he served as a Poll Worker, member of the Progressive Youth, and Presidential Delegate for the reorganization process of the New Progressive Party (PNP). In 2005, he was sworn in as Municipal Legislator in Las Piedras, standing out in his role as majority spokesperson and president of the Health, Welfare, and Environmental Quality Commission.

Motivated by his desire to serve and help improve the quality of life of citizens, he aspired to the position of Representative in the House. In March 2008, he prevailed in the PNP primaries, and in November of the same year, he was elected as Representative for District 33, which comprises the municipalities of Juncos, Las Piedras, and San Lorenzo.

Peña Ramírez served as president of the Labor and Labor Relations Commission of the House of Representatives and as vice president of the Integrated Development Commission of the Eastern Region and the Joint Commission for Federal Audit and Public Funds Management of the Legislative Assembly. He was secretary of the Internal Affairs, Health, and Municipal Affairs Commissions, and a member of the Education Commission and the Commission on Nonprofit Organizations and Cooperatives.

Biography

José “Pichy” Torres Zamora was born on June 7, 1971, in the town of Jayuya, where he was raised alongside his parents, Monsita Zamora González and Ernesto Torres Torres, and his two siblings.

The father of Joseluis Ernesto and Felipe Antonio, he completed his studies under the public education system. He graduated with honors from Josefina León Zayas High School. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez with the distinction of Cum Laude. Subsequently, at the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Master’s degree in Environmental Management and Engineering Management. Currently, he is completing a Juris Doctor degree at the University of Puerto Rico.

For 15 years, he worked in the private sector managing areas such as Environmental Engineering, Health, and Safety, among others. For years, he was a leader at Baxter in Jayuya, which, under his leadership, was awarded several times with the Best Environmental Program Award by Baxter Global and the Best Environmental Program Awards from the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association.

His performance as a Plant Engineer and, simultaneously, as an Environmental Health and Safety Auditor in Mexico, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, and Memphis was recognized several times by Baxter Corporate.

Torres Zamora demonstrated leadership from a young age. In 1991, he was vice president of the PNP Youth in Jayuya, and later, in 2001, he served as president of the New Progressive Party also in his hometown of Jayuya. For four years, from 2005 to 2008, he served as a Municipal Assembly Member.

In 2010, he was sworn in as a representative after filling the vacancy left by former legislator Iris Miriam Ruiz, thus presiding over the Health Commission. Two years later, he was appointed by then-Governor and PNP President Luis Guillermo Fortuño Burset as the Secretary General of the party.

The Jayuya native was elected in the 2016 general elections as a representative at-large and received the sixth highest number of votes. Following his victory, his fellow PNP representatives elected Pichy Torres Zamora as the new Vice President of the House of Representatives.

Biography

Representative Wilson J. Román of District 17 in the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico spent his early years in the municipality of Aguadilla and has lived most of his life in Moca. He completed his studies at Carmen Gómez Tejera Elementary School, Agustín Stral Middle School, and graduated from José de Diego High School, earning his diploma with honors. In 1999, he completed a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico.

In 1998, he began working at the Department of Housing, in the office of the now-defunct CRUV. In 2000, he was recruited by Mayor Eustaquio Vélez of the municipality of Moca, where he created the Office of Planning and Land Use, as well as prepared the Municipality’s Land Use Plan. In 2001 and part of 2002, he led the Municipal Public Works Department of the Municipality of Moca. From 2009 to 2012, he was the Regional Director of the Public Buildings Authority in Aguadilla. In 2017, he also held that position. He belonged to the JCI (Junior Chamber, Inc.) organization, holding the positions of National Vice President and Local President.

In his free time, his passion is spending time with his son and family, fostering family unity. His vocation is to serve his people, and he thanks them for trusting him by electing him as their Representative. In this new role entrusted to him, he wants to work hand in hand with his district, providing quality service, addressing their issues, and resolving them. “To serve is the greatest work of a lifetime.”

Biography

Eddie Charbonier Chinea, born on March 15, 1982, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has dedicated his life to public service and the development of his community. As part of his academic background, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government and later obtained a Juris Doctor, fundamental tools that have supported his understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our communities. From a very early age, Eddie Charbonier showed a deep interest in local and national politics. During his school years, he stood out for his participation in activities related to public administration, spending hours in the Chamber Gallery, analyzing bills in the Legislative Library, and communicating with legislators to share his innovative ideas for the welfare of Puerto Rico and all its constituents. This commitment led him, in 1999, to be appointed youth advisor by Governor Pedro Rosselló, marking the beginning of a career dedicated to public service and social transformation.
Within politics, his leadership materialized in significant roles within the youth organizations of the New Progressive Party, serving as President of the San Juan Youth, Regional Director of the Youth, and First Vice President of the State Youth. Starting at age 16, he began working in the House of Representatives and later served as an advisor on Youth Affairs for the Municipality of San Juan, where his dedication led him to become part of the Municipal Cabinet as Director of the Community Contact Office. His time in the Senate as a legislative advisor further solidified his commitment to politics and public service.

In 2016, after gaining the support of the constituents of Precinct 1 in the New Progressive Party primaries, he was elected Representative of the San Juan District. During his first four-year term, he stood out for leading the Capital City Development and Youth Affairs Commission, as well as chairing the Joint Committee of the Córdova and Fernós Congressional Internship Program. His performance was reaffirmed in subsequent elections, being reelected in the general elections of 2020 and 2024.

Currently, the Honorable Eddie Charbonier Chinea chairs the Finance Committee, serves as President of the Joint Special Committee on Legislative Funds for Community Impact, and once again leads the Joint Committee of the Córdova and Fernós Congressional Internship Program. His career is characterized by a committed vision to the economic and social progress of Puerto Rico and a genuine dedication to public service.

Biography

Víctor L. Parés Otero was born on July 18, 1966, in the capital city of San Juan. He inherited his interest in politics from his parents, José and Aida, who, in 1967, like many Puerto Ricans, took part in the registration and founding of the New Progressive Party.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences with a concentration in Criminal Justice from the Ana G. Méndez University System.

His time in public service has been marked by his strong interest in certain areas, such as improving the electrical infrastructure, the permitting system, creating conditions for sustained economic development, and expanding educational offerings, among others.

In his professional career, Parés Otero has served as a member of the San Juan Municipal Legislature. His tenacity and dedication were the driving forces that led him to attain the position of Vice President of that Legislative Body. He was also a legislative advisor in the House of Representatives. In March 2012, he was elected as Representative for Precinct 4.

For the 2016 general elections, he was elected once again as Representative. During that four-year term (2017-2020), he was appointed by then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Carlos J. Méndez Núñez, as Chairman of the Commission on Economic Development, Planning, Telecommunications, Public-Private Partnerships, and Energy, and Co-Chairman of the Joint Commission for Public-Private Partnerships of the Legislative Assembly. He was also Vice President of the Ethics Commission and the Special Commission for the Evaluation of the Adoption Process and the Treatment of Elderly People. He reaffirmed his seat in the 2020 elections.

Among the most notable laws authored by him are Law 120-2018 ‘Law to Transform the Electrical System of Puerto Rico,’ Law 17-2019 ‘Puerto Rico Energy Public Policy Law,’ Law 127-2019 ‘Law to Facilitate the Implementation and Use of Small Wireless Facilities or Small Cells in Telecommunications Systems in Puerto Rico,’ among other legislation with significant impact on the public.

On November 5, 2024, he was elected Representative for District Number 4, which includes part of the Municipality of San Juan. He was appointed to chair the Government Commission.

Biography

The representative for District 2, Jorge Luis Navarro Suárez, was born on July 8, 1964, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He studied in the public school system of Puerto Rico and completed his higher education at University Gardens School.

Later, he studied Banking, completing a Bachelor’s degree in Management and Finance at the University of Puerto Rico, Bayamón Campus.

Jorge, who is the son of the late Puerto Rican politician Georgie Navarro and Nitza Suárez, is the second of five children. He always excelled in sports and played basketball throughout his university student life.

Later, he worked in the private sector as a manager at the Pueblo supermarket chain and was a special assistant to the then Secretary of Commerce, Juan F. Woldroff, collaborating on labor-impact projects such as Vale Empleo, among others. He was also the deputy director of the federal business program attached to the Development Bank, Minority Business Opportunity of Commerce, helping small businesses achieve their optimal business development.

In 2004, Jorge won the general elections for District 5 San Juan – Guaynabo 6, thus entering the Legislature. He was born and raised in Precinct 5 of San Juan, which he knows perfectly. In the 2008 elections, he was re-elected as Representative for District San Juan 5 and Guaynabo 6.

Navarro has always seen public service as a vocation of love and respect for the people. Jorge is a man of convictions and high goals. Outside the Legislature, Jorge is a humble man, a father, and a fan of sports and nature.