Tatito Hernández Explained

Tatito Hernández
Office:32nd Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives
Term Start:January 2, 2021
Predecessor:Carlos Johnny Méndez
Office1:Minority Leader of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives
Term Start1:January 2, 2017
Term End1:January 2, 2021
Predecessor1:Jenniffer González
Successor1:Carlos Johnny Méndez
State House2:Puerto Rico
District2:11th
Term Start2:January 2, 2009
Predecessor2:Luis Fortuño
State House3:Puerto Rico
District3:at-large
Term Start3:2009
Term End3:2013
Birth Name:Rafael Hernández Montañez
Birth Date:14 April 1972
Birth Place:Dorado, Puerto Rico, U.S.
Party:Popular Democratic
Otherparty:Democratic
Allegiance: United States
Serviceyears:1990–1998
Unit:United States Navy Reserve

Rafael "Tatito" Hernández Montañez (born April 14, 1972) is a Puerto Rican politician affiliated with the Popular Democratic Party (PPD). He is also a Democrat. He has been a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives since 2009, representing District 11,[1] which includes the town of Dorado and parts of the towns of Vega Alta and Vega Baja. In the 2020 elections he was re-elected and chosen as speaker of the house in 2021.[2] [3]

Early life and education

Rafael "Tatito" Hernández was born April 14, 1972, in Dorado. Graduated from the José S. Alegría High School in Dorado. He received a Bachelor of Science in Surveying and Cartography from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico and completed a Juris doctor at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law. Hernandez also attended the Mortgage Bankers School of Puerto Rico and the Alberto Hernandez Real Estate School, where he took several courses on the origin, processes and analyses of loans, mortgages, and real estate. He served in the United States Navy Reserve for eight years.

Political career

He first ran for a seat in Puerto Rico's House of Representatives as a member of the Popular Democratic Party in 2008, the year of the opposing New Progressive Party's largest landslide election in history. Even though he was not elected as a district representative, the State Elections Commission certified him as an add-on at-large representative under the provisions of the Puerto Rico Constitution that provide for the certification of add-on legislators when the minority falls short in electing 17 members of the House. Once certified, he enjoyed all the privileges of an elected At-Large representative during that term.

In 2012, the Popular Democratic Party renominated Hernández for the general election and was elected outright as District 11's representative, winning with 48.83% of the votes in a three-way race.[4]

In 2016 Hernández was chosen as leader of the PPD minority.[5]

In December 2019, Tatito Hernández endorsed former Vice President and 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and has served as co-chair on his 2020 presidential campaign's "Puerto Rico for Biden" leadership committee.[6] After being chosen as speaker of the House, Hernández hired a former member of the Biden committee as an advisor receiving a $9000 monthly salary.[7]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Biografía - Hon. Rafael Hernández Montañez. 2021-07-07. tucamarapr.org.
  2. Web site: CEE Event. 2021-08-25. elecciones2020.ceepur.org.
  3. Web site: Serrano. Oscar J.. Rafael "Tatito" Hernández es oficialmente el nuevo presidente de la Cámara de Representantes. 2021-08-25. www.noticel.com. en-US.
  4. Web site: Representantes por Distrito, Distrito Rep. 11. https://web.archive.org/web/20121127171047/http://div1.ceepur.org/REYDI_Escrutinio/index.html#es/default/REPRESENTANTES_POR_DISTRITO_DISTRITO_REP_11.xml. dead. November 27, 2012. CEEPUR. December 26, 2012.
  5. Web site: 2016-11-15. PPD designa a Tatito Hernández como nuevo portavoz en la Cámara. 2021-08-25. CB en Español. en-US.
  6. Web site: 2019-12-05. Joe Biden picks up endorsements from 25 Puerto Rican leaders. 2021-07-07. Florida Politics. en-US.
  7. Web site: 2021-01-22. Tatito Hernández contrata a exasesora del comité electoral de Joe Biden, Senado hará lo mismo. 2021-08-25. Jay Fonseca. en-US.