Cristino Bernazard
Encyclopedia
Cristino Bernazard is the only person to have served beyond the inaugural session as an unelected Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives.
After having served as Secretary of the House under Speaker Angel Viera Martínez
, after the 1980 elections, his last duty as outgoing Secretary in January 1981 was to preside over the inaugural session of the new House until the new Speaker was elected and swear him in. Because neither the New Progressive Party
nor the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
had yet obtained an absolute majority of the seats in the House, the body remained deadlocked until former Speaker Angel Viera Martínez
and PDP Rep. Severo Colberg reached a power-sharing agreement that allowed Viera Martínez to be elected Speaker in April. In the meantime, Bernazard remained acting Speaker, appointed a bipartisan pair of co-chairs to every committee and kept the House working under unusual circumstances until a political agreement could relieve him of the unwanted and unsought prolongation of his duties as acting presiding officer and administrator of the House. He has been recognized by leaders of all political persuasions as someone who rose to the occasion and led with a steady hand until a political solution could be found to an unprecedented historical deadlock.
Bernazard was subsequently appointed by Governor Carlos Romero Barceló
as a member of the Puerto Rico Industrial Commission, a nomination that breezed through the confirmation process in an opposition-controlled Senate, in recognition of the historic role he had played in maintaining democratic stability in a time of crisis.
From 1993 to 2000 completed his legislative staff career as Staff Director of the Senate Government Affairs Committee under two chairmen, Sen. Rolando Silva and Sen. Kenneth McClintock
, Puerto Rico's current Secretary of State
.
In 2000, his wife died, days before his boss, McClintock, lost his mother. Coincidentally, the graves of these two wives of military veterans were placed side by side at the United States National Cemetery in Bayamón, Puerto Rico
. Bernazard retired and currently lives and works as an educator in the state of Florida.
After having served as Secretary of the House under Speaker Angel Viera Martínez
Angel Viera Martínez
Attorney Angel Viera Martínez was a prominent pro-statehood public servant in Puerto Rico during the second half of the 20th century.He began his public service as a prosecutor. In 1968 he ran as a candidate for state representative under the banner of the New Progressive Party, which he helped...
, after the 1980 elections, his last duty as outgoing Secretary in January 1981 was to preside over the inaugural session of the new House until the new Speaker was elected and swear him in. Because neither the New Progressive Party
New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico
The New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that advocates for Puerto Rico's admission to the United States of America as the 51st state...
nor the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth....
had yet obtained an absolute majority of the seats in the House, the body remained deadlocked until former Speaker Angel Viera Martínez
Angel Viera Martínez
Attorney Angel Viera Martínez was a prominent pro-statehood public servant in Puerto Rico during the second half of the 20th century.He began his public service as a prosecutor. In 1968 he ran as a candidate for state representative under the banner of the New Progressive Party, which he helped...
and PDP Rep. Severo Colberg reached a power-sharing agreement that allowed Viera Martínez to be elected Speaker in April. In the meantime, Bernazard remained acting Speaker, appointed a bipartisan pair of co-chairs to every committee and kept the House working under unusual circumstances until a political agreement could relieve him of the unwanted and unsought prolongation of his duties as acting presiding officer and administrator of the House. He has been recognized by leaders of all political persuasions as someone who rose to the occasion and led with a steady hand until a political solution could be found to an unprecedented historical deadlock.
Bernazard was subsequently appointed by Governor Carlos Romero Barceló
Carlos Romero Barceló
Carlos Antonio Romero Barceló is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fifth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the second governor to be elected from the New Progressive Party and also Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001, making him one of the more successful...
as a member of the Puerto Rico Industrial Commission, a nomination that breezed through the confirmation process in an opposition-controlled Senate, in recognition of the historic role he had played in maintaining democratic stability in a time of crisis.
From 1993 to 2000 completed his legislative staff career as Staff Director of the Senate Government Affairs Committee under two chairmen, Sen. Rolando Silva and Sen. Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth D. McClintock-Hernández is the current Secretary of State of Puerto Rico. Mr. McClintock served as co-chair of Hillary Clinton presidential campaign's National Hispanic Leadership Council in 2008, co-chaired Clinton's successful Puerto Rico primary campaign that year and served as the...
, Puerto Rico's current Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
.
In 2000, his wife died, days before his boss, McClintock, lost his mother. Coincidentally, the graves of these two wives of military veterans were placed side by side at the United States National Cemetery in Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
. Bernazard retired and currently lives and works as an educator in the state of Florida.