Ricky Rosselló

Ricky Rosselló
12th Governor of Puerto Rico
Assumed office
January 2, 2017
Preceded by Alejandro García Padilla
Personal details
Born Ricardo Antonio Rosselló
Nevares
(1979-03-07) March 7, 1979
San Juan, Puerto Rico, U.S.
Political party New Progressive
Other political
affiliations		 Democratic
Spouse(s) Beatriz Rivera
Children 2
Parents Maga Nevares (mother)
Pedro Rosselló (father)
Residence La Fortaleza
Education Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (BS)
University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor (MS, PhD)
Website Government website

Ricardo Antonio Rosselló Nevares[lower-alpha 1] /ˌroʊseɪˈoʊ/ (born March 7, 1979) is a Puerto Rican politician and the 12th and current Governor of Puerto Rico. He is also the President of the New Progressive Party which advocates for Puerto Rico to become a state of the United States. He is also a college professor and researcher.

Rosselló came to public life after his father, Pedro Rosselló, was elected as governor of Puerto Rico in 1992 and 1996. At the time, Ricardo was mostly known for his academic and athletic accomplishments, having represented Puerto Rico internationally in the International Mathematical Olympiads and by becoming a three-time junior tennis champion on the island.

Initially, however, Rosselló dedicated himself to the sciences. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering and economics and, later on, graduated from the University of Michigan with a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering.[1]

After obtaining his doctoral degree, Rosselló worked as a researcher at Duke University, focusing his work on stem cell research. He then published and presented his research on several venues while obtaining several awards in the process.

But after a few years in academia, Rosselló returned to the public life. In 2010, he founded the political advocacy group Boricua ¡Ahora Es! that advocated for changing the current political status of Puerto Rico. After several years of political advocacy, Rosselló announced that he would seek the nomination for governor of Puerto Rico under the New Progressive Party (PNP in Spanish).[2] Several months later he was elected governor during the 2016 general election.

Rosselló's political stances tend to be centrist on social issues. For instance, he supports legalization of medical marijuana but opposes legalization of marijuana for recreational use.[3] Rosselló supports LGBT rights but opposes same-sex marriage.[4]

Early life and education

Rosselló playing tennis for MIT in the NCAA Division III as part of a doubles team.

Rosselló was born 1979 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the son of Pedro Rosselló, a doctor, and Maga Nevares, and is the youngest of three brothers including Juan Oscar (b. 1971) and Luis Roberto (b. 1973). He attended Colegio Marista de Guaynabo. Rosselló's paternal great-grandfather Pedro Juan Rosselló Batle immigrated in 1902 at the age of 23 from Lloseta, Mallorca, Spain. His brother Juan had arrived a year earlier.[5] During his high school years he was an athlete and a three-time junior tennis champion in Puerto Rico. He was selected to compete in the International Mathematical Olympiads.

He earned a bachelor's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in biomedical engineering and economics, and a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) in biomedical engineering from the University of Michigan. As a college student he served as president of the Association of Puerto Rican Students at MIT and was the winner of the Dean’s Office award for outstanding leadership and community service. Additionally, he was the recipient of the office of minority “academic excellence” award and was the youngest deputy leader in the International Mathematical Olympiads in 2000. As a researcher in college, Rosselló focused on adult stem cell research.[6]

After graduation, Rosselló worked as a researcher at Duke University. His work in the stem cell research area has been subject of several awards, such as the Biomaterials Conference STAR Award and has been recognized as a Scholar by the International Society of Neurobiology. His works have been published in several academic journals, including the Communicative & Integrative Biology Journal and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.[6]

He is a co-founder of Beijing Prosperous Biopharm, a medical company established in Beijing, China, that has developed various designer drugs aimed at prostate cancer, neurodegeneration problems, diabetes, and HIV.[7]

He has presented his research in various international conferences, including the Society for Biomedical Engineering, Orthopedic Research Society, and the Society for Biomaterials, where he was awarded two STAR research awards for outstanding research. His findings suggest a potential strategy to improve cell-cell communication in 3D, implying that both targeted delivery and cell-based strategies can be used as treatments to enhance communication in 3D living tissue, which can have a significant impact in tissue engineering and cancer therapy.

Political career

Rosselló became involved in politics during the 2008 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election, when his father Pedro Rosselló lost a party primary against the eventual Governor Luis Fortuño. As a Democrat, Rosselló was a Hillary Clinton delegate to the 2008 nominating convention and an Obama delegate to the 2012 convention. In 2008, he had a key role in Clinton's get-out-the-vote efforts for the June 1 Puerto Rico presidential primary, appearing in her final TV ad with several democratic and Puerto Rican political leaders.[8]

Following this event, Rosselló became a political commentator, writing columns for El Vocero, a daily newspaper published in San Juan, covering politics, science, healthcare and economics topics. Additionally, Rosselló appeared as a regular guest analyst in several political radio talk shows.

He published a book that depicted the accomplishments of his father’s administration (1993–2001). All copies of the limited edition print were exhausted in one day. To diffuse the message, he allowed the material to be public domain, and published it on the La Obra de Rosselló website for everyone to read.[9]

In 2012, Rosselló founded Boricua ¡Ahora Es!, a political advocacy group that advocates changing Puerto Rico's current political status. The movement featured a grass-roots educational campaign,[10] suggesting that involvement of the international community may be necessary for the United States government to take action.[11] Boricua ¡Ahora Es! actively campaigned during the 2012 Puerto Rico status referendum.

Gubernatorial campaign

Since 2012, Rosselló was mentioned as a potential gubernatorial candidate for the 2016 election cycle.[12][13][14][15][16]

In 2013, he began organizing a group of collaborators to build what he called Plan para Puerto Rico (Plan for Puerto Rico). This plan would serve as a blueprint to deal with the economic and political problems and Puerto Rico and by being built years before a candidacy, it would represent a more complete and realistic political agenda. In 2014, Rosselló utilized his political platform to perform several protest events against the policies of the incumbent Governor of Puerto Rico, Alejandro García Padilla. Some of these events included a march against a proposed Value Added Tax.

On September 19, 2015, he confirmed his intention to run for Governor of Puerto Rico in the 2016 election,[17] and held a campaign rally the next day at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan that surpassed the previous attendance record held by Ricky Martin. At the rally, he endorsed Jenniffer González, a Republican, for Resident Commissioner.[18]

On June 5, 2016, Rosselló won the New Progressive Party primary against incumbent Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, thus becoming the party's candidate for governor and heading to the general election against PPD candidate David Bernier.[19] He made Puerto Rican statehood the central issue of his campaign, and views statehood as the key to economic recovery.[20]

On November 8, 2016, Rosselló defeated five other gubernatorial candidates and was elected Governor of Puerto Rico, receiving 41% of he vote. He was sworn in on January 2, 2017.

Governorship

First days

Rosselló announced the designation of several of his members for the 17th Cabinet of Puerto Rico, including William Villafañe to be his Chief of Staff.

Domestic policies

On his first day as governor, Rosselló signed six executive orders. His first executive order was the OE-2017-001, decreeing a state of fiscal emergency. The second order was the OE-2017-002, which creates the COF with the intent of obtaining, maximizing and overseeing more federal funds. The third executive order, OE-2017-003, looks to streamline the permit obtaining process for development of projects that promote a new or improved infrastructure for the lending of services for the citizens and for economic development within Puerto Rico. The fourth executive order, OE-2017-004, creates an interagency group of projects critical for the infrastructure, a collateral effect of the OE 2017-003. The fifth executive order, OE-2017-005, orders the implementation of the method of zero base budget for the preparation of the budget for the fiscal year 2017-2018. The last executive order Rosselló signed on his first day was the OE-2017-006; it decrees a public policy within the Government of Puerto Rico that guarantees equal pay for equal job for women employees.[21][22][23]

Views on statehood

Rosselló is strongly in favor of statehood for Puerto Rico. "Colonialism is not an option .... It’s a civil rights issue ... The time will come in which the United States has to respond to the demands of 3.5 million citizens seeking an absolute democracy" he stated. In January 2017 he announced that Puerto Ricans will be given an opportunity to vote in the fifth plebiscite on June 11, 2017, with three options: "Statehood", "Current Territorial Status" and "Independence/Free Association". It initially did not offer the second option, which was added at the request of United States Department of Justice (US-DOJ).[24] Around the same time, Puerto Rico's legislators are expected to vote on a bill that would allow the Governor to draft a state constitution and hold elections to choose senators and representatives to the U.S. Congress.

On June 11, 2017, the results of the plebiscite were 97% in favor of statehood. However, the plebiscite results have been marred and been called into question. Due to months of calls for boycotting by his political rivals and confusion, the turnout for the plebiscite was 23% of the eligible electorate. Rosselló plans on creating a commission that will ensure the validity of the referendum in Congress. [25]

Regardless of the outcome of the votes, the U.S. Congress will be the body to make the final decision on the status of Puerto Rico.[26]

Economic strategies

By the time Rosselló took office, the Puerto Rican government-debt crisis posed serious problems for the government which was saddled with outstanding debt of $70 billion or $12,000 per capita[27] at a time with a 45 percent poverty rate and 14.2% unemployment that is more than twice the mainland U.S. average.[28][27]

The Commonwealth had been defaulting on many debts, including bonds, since 2015. Rosselló discussed the situation and sketched out his plans in an interview with the international Financial Times in mid January and indicated that he would seek an amicable resolution with creditors and also make fiscal reforms. "There will be real fiscal oversight and we are willing to sit down. We are taking steps to make bold reforms. ... What we are asking for is runway to establish these reforms and have Washington recognise that they have a role to play." He also implemented austerity measures, instructing Puerto Rican government agencies to cut operating expenses by 10 percent and reduce political appointees by 20 percent.[29]

To ensure funds would be available to pay for "essential" government services Rosselló signed a fiscal emergency law on January 28, 2017, that would allow for setting aside funds that might otherwise be required for debt payments.[30]

In late January, the federal control board created under PROMESA gave the government until February 28 to present a fiscal plan - including negotiations with creditors - to solve the problems. It is essential for Puerto Rico to reach restructuring deals to avoid a bankruptcy-like process under PROMESA.[31] A moratorium on lawsuits by debtors was extended to May 31.[32]

Rosselló hired investment expert Rothschild & Co to assist in convincing creditors to take deeper losses on Puerto Rico's debts than they had expected. The company was also exploring the possibility of convincing insurers that had guaranteed some of the bonds against default, to contribute more to the restructuring, according to reliable sources. The governor also planned to negotiate restructuring of about $9 billion of electric utility debt, a plan that could result "in a showdown with insurers". Political observers suggest that his negotiation of the electrical utility debt indicated Rosselló's intention to take a harder line with creditors. Puerto Rico has received authority from the federal government to reduce its debt with legal action and this may make creditors more willing to negotiate instead of becoming embroiled in a long and costly legal battle.[33]

On May 31, Rosselló unveiled his $9.56 billion proposed budget for the 2018 fiscal year. The budget prioritizes paying pensions, increasing spending in the island's health system, public safety and transportation. At the same time, the budget proposes cutting in the departments of education, natural resources, housing, agriculture, correction and justice. Of the education cuts, it includes over a $200 million cut for Puerto Rico's public university, which has experienced organized student strikes for over two months. The budget would direct $2 billion for the public pension system of Puerto Rico that is underfunded by about $50 billion. To balance this increase, the budget eliminates millions of dollars in annual subsidies to 78 municipalities of Puerto Rico, forcing the mayors to find funding in other areas. In addition, the budget focuses payments for the debt services and the federal control board. Rosselló also announced a tax reform which will produce tax breaks for the working class and retirees. [34][35]

Personal life

Rosselló is the youngest of three brothers. Married since 2012, he and his wife Beatriz have two children.[36] He has worked in South America alongside other stem cell doctors in developing better stem cell treatment.[37]

Controversy

Roselló claimed to have developed various drugs, but later made clear they are still in the research phase of development.[38]

He was accused by Bolivian author Lupe Andrade of plagiarizing her column, “Responsabilidad y democracia” ("Accountability and Democracy"). He denied the claim and no legal action followed.[39][40]

Ancestry

Publications

Research

Books

Notes

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

References

  1. ↑ "Ricardo Rosselló gets UPR posting". Caribbean Business. August 28, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Ricky Rosselló y Jennifer Gonzalez se presentan juntos". El Nuevo Dia. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  3. ↑ Ruiz Kuilan, Gloria (2016-08-22). "Ocho propuestas de Ricardo Rosselló para un Puerto Rico más seguro". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  4. ↑ Rosario, Frances (2016-03-10). "Rosselló solo cree en el matrimonio heterosexual". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  5. ↑ Ricardo Rosselló, un 'mallorquín' gobernador de Puerto Rico, diariodemallorca.es; accessed March 31, 2017.(in Spanish)
  6. 1 2 "Un mejor Puerto Rico es posible". Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Rosselló diseña medicamentos en China". El Nuevo Día. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  8. ↑ "About". June 15, 2013.
  9. ↑ "La Obra De Rossello". Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  10. ↑ Yennifer Álvarez Jaimes. "Ricky Rosselló quiere ganarse el apoyo del pueblo". Vocero.com. Retrieved 2012-01-09.
  11. ↑ "Ricky Rosselló asegura que el status se definirá con una crisis". Archived from the original on August 23, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Ricky Rosselló anhela entrar a la política". Elnuevodia.com. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Rosselló hijo no dice si aspirará a escaño de Crespo". Vocero.com. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Posible la candidatura de Ricky Rosselló para el 2012". Elexpresso.com. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Hijo de Rosselló niega que haya lanzado candidatura a comisionado residente". Elnuevodia.com. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Junte PNP mide fuerzas y aprueba reglamento". Elvocero.com. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  17. ↑ Suárez, Lymaris (September 19, 2015). "Confiado Ricardo Rosselló en su capacidad intelectual". El Nuevo Día.
  18. ↑ "Ricky Rosselló y Jenniffer González se presentan juntos". El Nuevo Dia. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  19. ↑ Caro González, Leysa. "Rosselló prueba la victoria". El Nuevo Dia. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  20. ↑ Coto, Danica (November 3, 2016). "Leading Governor Candidate in Puerto Rico Wants US Statehood". ABC News. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  21. ↑ Cortés Feliciano, Christian (January 3, 2017). "Ricardo Rosselló y sus seis órdenes ejecutivas". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  22. ↑ "Rosselló firma seis órdenes ejecutivas en su primer día como gobernador". Telemundopr.com. 2017-01-02. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
  23. ↑ "Rosselló firma medidas para reducir el gobierno". Elvocero.com. 2017-01-02. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
  24. ↑ "El Nuevo Día". www.elnuevodia.com. Retrieved 2017-05-28.
  25. ↑ http://www.cbsnews.com/news/puerto-rican-voters-overwhelmingly-chose-statehood-governor-says/
  26. ↑ Coto, Danica (February 3, 2017). "Puerto Rico gov approves referendum in quest for statehood". Washington Post. Washington D.C. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  27. 1 2 Baribeau, Simone (January 23, 2017). "United States Virgin Islands Risks Capsizing Under Weight Of Debt". Forbes. Forbes. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  28. ↑ Nick Brown, Reuters (January 18, 2017). "Puerto Rico oversight board favors more time for restructuring talks". Fiscal Times. The Fiscal Times. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  29. ↑ Platt, Eric (January 19, 2017). "New Puerto Rico governor seeks amicable debt crisis resolution". Financial Times. New York. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  30. ↑ Brown, Nick (February 9, 2017). "Puerto Rico to pay some debt while creditors brood". Reuters. Reuters. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  31. ↑ Nick Brown, Reuters (January 18, 2017). "Puerto Rico oversight board favors more time for restructuring talks". Fiscal Times. The Fiscal Times. Retrieved February 16, 2017. The bipartisan, seven-member oversight board was created under the federal Puerto Rico rescue law known as PROMESA, passed by the U.S. Congress last year. It is charged with helping the island manage its finances and navigate its way out of the economic jam, including by negotiating restructuring deals with creditors.
  32. ↑ Staff (January 29, 2017). "Puerto Rico gets more time to propose fiscal plan". Scottsbluff Star Herald. Scottsbluff, Maine. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  33. ↑ Schatzker, Erik (February 9, 2017). "Puerto Rico Said to Seek Deeper Concessions in Utility Deal". Bloomberg. Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  34. ↑ "Puerto Rico governor Ricardo Rossello protects pensions, promises tax breaks in the budget". The Indian Express. June 1, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  35. ↑ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-puertorico-debt-budget-idUSKBN18R3C8?il=0
  36. ↑ "Ricky Roselló comparte foto de su boda en Facebook". Metro.pr. November 11, 2012.
  37. ↑ "Ricky Rosselló establece colaboración internacional de células madres y cáncer". Victoria840.com. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  38. ↑ "El Nuevo Día". Elnuevodia.com. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  39. ↑ "Escritora denuncia que Ricky Rosselló la plagió". Primerahora.com. July 31, 2014. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
  40. ↑ "Ricky Rosselló sin plagio alguno al publicar columna, dice abogada". Notiuno.com. July 31, 2014. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
  41. ↑ Ricardo Rosselló, un 'mallorquín' gobernador de Puerto Rico, diariodemallorca.es; accessed March 31, 2017.(in Spanish)
  42. ↑ A new prescription for Puerto Rico
  43. ↑ Juan Antonio Rosselló Matanzo Grave site.
  44. ↑ Pedro Rosselló Biography, www.biografiasyvidas.com/
  45. ↑ Jacobina Matanzo Torres Vallejo, Event: Birth, Place: puerto rico - Familysearch
  46. ↑ Jacobina Matanzo Torres Vallejo, Event: Birth, Place: puerto rico - Familysearch
  47. ↑ Pedro J. Rosselló González, Gobernador electo de Puerto Rico (Page: 218)
  48. ↑ Jacobina Matanzo Torres Vallejo de Roselló Grave site
  49. ↑ Jacobina Matanzo Torres Vallejo, Event: Birth, Place: puerto rico - Familysearch
  50. ↑ Pedro Rosselló Biography, www.biografiasyvidas.com/
  51. ↑ Iris Marta Gonzalez Y Paz Puerto Rico, Civil Registration
  52. ↑ Iris M González Paz Grave site.
  53. ↑ Pedro Rosselló Biography, www.biografiasyvidas.com/
  54. ↑ Ricardo Rosselló un 'mallorquín' gobernador de Puerto Rico
  55. ↑ Oscar Nevárez Y Del Valle United States Census, 1920
  56. ↑ Margarita Del Valle Y Olmedes De Nevárez United States Census, 1920
  57. ↑ "Un mejor Puerto Rico es posible". Laeditorialupr.com. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
Party political offices
Preceded by
Luis Fortuño		 New Progressive nominee for Governor of Puerto Rico
2016 		Most recent
Political offices
Preceded by
Alejandro García Padilla		 Governor of Puerto Rico
2017–present 		Incumbent
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