Jaime Perelló

Jaime R. Perelló Borrás
30th Speaker of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico
In office
January 2, 2013 – August 29, 2016
Preceded by Jenniffer González
Succeeded by Roberto Rivera Ruiz de Porras
Personal details
Born Jaime R. Perelló Borrás
(1973-09-14) September 14, 1973
San Juan, Puerto Rico, U.S.
Political party Popular Democratic
Other political
affiliations		 Democratic
Alma mater Interamerican University of
Puerto Rico
Cambridge College

Jaime R. Perelló Borrás[lower-alpha 1] (born September 14, 1973) is a Puerto Rican politician. Perelló is affiliated with the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico and the Democratic Party of the United States. He was the 30th Speaker of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico until he was forced to resign under corruption allegations.

Early years and studies

Jaime Rafael Perelló Borrás was born on September 14, 1973 in San Juan. He studied at the Santa Teresita Academy in Santurce where he was secretary of his class in 1992. Perelló then studied at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico where he obtained a Bachelor's degree in Political Science in 1998.

Perelló also licensed himself to work as an insurance agent, which he did, even opening his own insurance firm. In 2005, Perelló completed his Master's degree in Education with a Major in Public Administration from Cambridge College in Boston, Massachusetts.

Political career

In 2000, Perelló was appointed by José Aponte de la Torre, then Mayor of Carolina, as adviser for the Health Reform. Concerned for the health crisis caused by the Navy bombardments in Vieques, Perelló and Aponte founded the Corporation Salud para Vieques, where he served as part of the Board of Directors.

The next year, Aponte asked him to work as Special Aide in charge of Affairs with Central and Federal Government, as well as serving as liaison with other mayors from Puerto Rico and the United States. In 2003, he was one of the arrested people for performing civil disobedience on Vieques, serving 30 days in a federal prison (see United States Navy in Vieques, Puerto Rico).

In 2000 and 2004, Perelló ran for the District Representative's seat and lost the same against candidate Epi Jimenez, Jr. for the 40th district of Carolina.

In 2005, Perelló worked for the campaign of Fernando Ferrer, first Puerto Rican to aspire to be Mayor of New York City. In August 2007, Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá appointed him as adviser in Municipal Affairs, in charge of implementing public policies from the central administration in all the municipalities of the island.

Perelló, again, presented his candidacy for the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, winning a slot at the primaries of his party in 2008.[1] Later that year, he was elected to his first term in the House at the general elections.[2]

In 2012, Perelló led the team of candidates for representatives of the Popular Democratic Party to achieve a majority in the House of Representative of Puerto Rico.

In November 2012, revalidated to a second term as Representative at-Large and the Popular Democratic Party won the majority in upper house Senate of Puerto Rico and the lower house Puerto Rico House of Representatives. Then the representatives of majority chose Perelló as Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives.

In August 29, 2016, Perelló resigned as the Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives due to his name being mentioned in a trial in federal court of three former House employees under his direct supervision who were charged in a Pay to Play scheme. Perelló was not accused of any wrong-doing but the president of the Popular Democratic Party, David Bernier pressured him to resign from his position[3]

On July 28, 2017, Perelló was charged with perjury and violating government ethics and campaign finance laws, among other things. He is scheduled to appear in court in August. [4]

Personal life

Perelló is married and has three children.

In 2007, he received the Missión Accomplishment Award from Cambridge College for his work in the public service.

Notes

  1. ↑ This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Perelló and the second or maternal family name is Borrás.

References

  1. ↑ Primarias 2008: Representantes por Acumulación on CEEPUR
  2. ↑ Elecciones Generales 2008 Archived 2011-11-20 at the Wayback Machine. on CEEPUR
  3. ↑ Speaker Perelló: I’m resigning to protect fellow lawmakers
  4. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-4651038/Puerto-Ricos-former-House-leader-charged-corruption.html
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