David Bernier
| David Bernier | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 23rd Secretary of State of Puerto Rico | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2013 | |
| Governor | Alejandro García Padilla |
| Preceded by | Kenneth McClintock |
| President of the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee | |
| In office 2008–2012 | |
| Preceded by | Héctor Cardona |
| Succeeded by | Sara Rosario |
| Secretary of Sports and Recreation | |
| In office January 2, 2005 – September 2008 | |
| Governor | Aníbal Acevedo Vilá |
| Preceded by | Jorge Fuentes |
| Succeeded by | Henry Neumann |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David Enrique Bernier Rivera January 21, 1977 Patillas, Puerto Rico |
| Political party | Popular Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Alexandra Fuentes (2007–present) |
| Children | Adrián David Miranda |
| Residence | Guaynabo, Puerto Rico |
| Alma mater | University of Puerto Rico |
David Enrique Bernier Rivera[lower-alpha 1] (born January 21, 1977) is an odontologist and the current Secretary of State of Puerto Rico. Bernier previously served as Secretary of Sports and Recreation of Puerto Rico, as well as Executive Director of Puerto Rico's Office of Youth Affairs and President of the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee. He is also a former athlete and former member of the Puerto Rican National Fencing Team.
Early years and education
Bernier was born in Patillas, Puerto Rico. His father, Luis Bernier, was a professor at the University of Puerto Rico at Ponce. David and his older brother Victor attended the María Dávila Semidey School in Patillas, where they received their primary education. After this, they enrolled in the school of sports of the Albergue Olímpico located in Salinas, Puerto Rico. Bernier became a member of the National Fencing Selection of Puerto Rico, during his school years, and represented Puerto Rico in events worldwide. He was also president of the first graduating class of the Albergue Olímpico school.[2]
Bernier later studied at the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey where he received a bachelor's degree in Natural Sciences, graduating magna cum laude.[citation needed][1] He then completed a doctorate in odontology at the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus.[1][2] He was also president of the Student Council and was also named president of the Association of Athletes of High Endurance.[citation needed]
Sports life
As a member of the National Fencing Selection of Puerto Rico, Bernier was the Panamerican Youth Champion for three consecutive years. He also won the Bronze Medal in the 1998 Central American and Caribbean Games, celebrated in Maracaibo, Venezuela.
Bernier and his brother went to Carolina, where they trained under trainer Gilberto Peña. In the 2003 Pan American Games celebrated in the Dominican Republic, his brother, Victor won the Bronze Medal in Individual Épée Fencing and the brothers Bernier and Peña (Jonathan and Marcos) won a Bronze Medal in Team Épée Fencing. Victor became the first Puerto Rican to win a medal in fencing for his country and the team (consisting of the Bernier and Peña brothers), the first team to win a medal for the island by beating the United States team 45-40.[citation needed]
Bernier was delegate and standard bearer for the Puerto Rican Olympic Committee in the 2004 Summer Olympics celebrated in Athens, Greece. That same year, Bernier was inducted into the Puerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame.[citation needed]
On September 2008, Bernier resigned to his position as Secretary of Sports and Recreation to run for President of the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee.[3] The election for president of the Olympic Committee took place on October 1, 2008. Bernier won the seat receiving 26 votes from the Federation delegates versus 13 votes in favor of incumbent Héctor Cardona.[4]
As president of the Olympic Committee, Bernier dealt with the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayagüez, the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.[5]
Public service career
In 2003, Governor Sila Calderón appointed Bernier as Executive Director of the Office of Youth Affairs. On September 26, 2003, the Senate of Puerto Rico confirmed Bernier for the position.
On January 4, 2005 resigned his post at the Office of Youth Affairs after being named Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Sports and Recreation by Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá. He was unanimously confirmed by the Senate of Puerto Rico, then presided by Kenneth McClintock, who would subsequently precede him as Secretary of State. In 2006, after the Senate failed to confirm two nominees to replace him at the Office of Youth Affairs, the Governor nominated him once again to that job, which he held simultaneously with the position of Secretary of Sports and Recreation, once he was again confirmed by the Senate.
On January 31, 2008, Bernier became president of the committee that was organizing the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games. Following his designation he announced that he would discuss with the mayors of adjacent municipalities to help in the process.[6]
Secretary of State
On November 15, 2012, Governor-elect Alejandro García Padilla appointed Bernier to succeed Kenneth McClintock as Puerto Rico's 23rd Secretary of State, which also entails the role of lieutenant governor.[5] At the moment, Bernier was preparing to be reelected as President of the Olympic Committee when he was approached by García Padilla for the position.[7] He was sworn into his recess appointment by Puerto Rico Supreme Court Chief Justice Federico Hernández Denton and he has since been unanimously confirmed by the Senate of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico House of Representatives. Holding the title of Secretary of State entails serving in the dual role of Lieutenant Governor. As such, he has served as Acting Governor whenever Governor García Padilla has been out of Puerto Rico. At least once during his term, the acting governorship has been delegated to Attorney General Luis Sánchez Betances when both the Governor and Bernier have been absent, and when General Sánchez Betances has also been away, Secretary of the Treasury Melba Acosta has served as Acting Governor.
Head of state hosted as Secretary of State
As Secretary of State, Bernier has hosted the following head of state:
•Danilo Medina, President of the Dominican Republic-January 2013
Travels as Secretary of State
Representing Puerto Rico being one of the post's main responsibilities, Secretary Bernier has traveled to the following foreign countries while in office:
•Dominican Republic
•Panama
•Costa Rica
•Brazil
See also
Personal life
Bernier married actress and host Alexandra Fuentes in 2007. They have two children together: a son, Adrián David,[8] and a daughter, Miranda.[9]
External links
Notes
- ↑ This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Bernier and the second or maternal family name is Rivera.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Biografía, Secretario de Estado, Hon. David E. Bernier Rivera (in Spanish), Department of State of Puerto Rico, retrieved August 3, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "David Bernier: del deporte a la política". El Nuevo Día. November 16, 2012.
- ↑ Cortés, Ricardo (September 10, 2008). "Acevedo Vilá reconoce la labor de Bernier". El Nuevo Día.
- ↑ Carlos González (2008-10-01). "Bernier barrió en la elección a presidente del Copur" (in Spanish). Primera Hora. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Bernier será el nuevo Secretario de Estado". El Nuevo Día. November 15, 2012.
- ↑ Alex Figueroa Cancel (2008-02-01). "Bernier dio el sí". Primera Hora. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
- ↑ Del Valle, Sara (November 15, 2012). "El COPUR podría tener la primera mujer presidenta de su historia". El Nuevo Día.
- ↑ Héctor Aponte Alequín (February 16, 2007). "Primera Hora: Salsa Estudiantil con Fin Educador".
- ↑ "Nace la hija de Alexandra Fuentes y David Bernier". Primera Hora. December 27, 2010.
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