Ferdinand Mercado

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Ferdinand Mercado-Ramos is a former Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of State under Governor Sila Calderón from 2001 to 2004. His government service ended after Gov. Calderón appointed him as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico and his nomination was later withdrawn when it became apparent that he would not be confirmed by the Senate of Puerto Rico.

Prior to serving as Secretary of State, Mercado ran unsuccessfully for state Representative, served as Secretary of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives under Speaker José Ronaldo Jarabo, as a District Court Judge, as President of the Puerto Rico Judicature Association, and as Secretary General of the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico (PDP). Mercado is one of the few Puerto Ricans who have ample, high level experience in the three branches of state government.

An accomplished poet whose works have been published in several books, Mercado currently practices law and is a prominent political analyst for the Notiuno radio network in Puerto Rico. He is married and has two children.