Héctor Luis Acevedo
Encyclopedia
Héctor Luis Acevedo is a politician
from Río Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico
. He is the son of Héctor N. Acevedo and Toñita, both public servants. Acevedo is married to Carmen Roca Saavedra since 1972 with whom he has three children.
Elementary School and High School, but completed High School in Spain in the America School of Madrid. There he won the Director's Cup and the medal in history. He completed a bachelor's degree in Political Science
at the University of Puerto Rico with high honors
. He obtained his degree in Law
from the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras in 1972, where he also graduated with honors. Acevedo then entered the United States Army Reserve
as a commissioned officer after completing the ROTC program. While in university he was elected president of the student council
, president of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity
, and in 1967 president of the Order of the Arrow
.
In 1976, he was appointed Electoral Commissioner when he was only twenty-eight years old, making him the youngest person to hold that position. He remained as Electoral Commissioner until 1984. In 1978, he completed the Lawyer's Education Program at the Harvard Law School
. That same year he began working as an assistant to then Governor
Rafael Hernández Colón
.
In 1985 he was appointed Secretary of State
. In 1988, he was elected Mayor
of San Juan in a close race. He was reelected in 1992 by a much larger margin. In 1994, he was elected president of the Popular Democratic Party
, and in 1996 he ran unsuccessfully for governor of Puerto Rico
, losing by a 51% to 45% margin to Pedro Rosselló. Since then he dedicates his time to teaching full time at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
. He is also a part-time professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
School of Law. Considered Gov. Jesús T. Piñero
's principal biographer, he is also contributing to the biography of former Puerto Rico Senate Vice President Luis Negrón López
, the PDP's 1968 gubernatorial candidate.
He is a vice-president of the Boy Scouts of America Puerto Rican Council.
In 2003, he was appointed President of the Commission for Electoral Finance Reform. Acevedo is known to be an expert in Puerto Rican electoral law.
Currently he lives in Rio Piedras, where he occasionally plays midnight basketball with his youngest son.
, published by the Interamerican University Press in September, 2007.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Río Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. He is the son of Héctor N. Acevedo and Toñita, both public servants. Acevedo is married to Carmen Roca Saavedra since 1972 with whom he has three children.
Biography
Héctor Luis studied in the University of Puerto RicoUniversity of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
Elementary School and High School, but completed High School in Spain in the America School of Madrid. There he won the Director's Cup and the medal in history. He completed a bachelor's degree in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at the University of Puerto Rico with high honors
Latin honors
Latin honors are Latin phrases used to indicate the level of academic distinction with which an academic degree was earned. This system is primarily used in the United States, Canada, and in many countries of continental Europe, though some institutions also use the English translation of these...
. He obtained his degree in Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
from the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras in 1972, where he also graduated with honors. Acevedo then entered the United States Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
as a commissioned officer after completing the ROTC program. While in university he was elected president of the student council
Students' union
A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, guild of students or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges and universities, and has started appearing in some high schools...
, president of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity
Alpha Phi Omega
Alpha Phi Omega is the largest collegiate fraternity in the United States, with chapters at over 350 campuses, an active membership of approximately 17,000 students, and over 350,000 alumni members...
, and in 1967 president of the Order of the Arrow
Order of the Arrow
The Order of the Arrow is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America . It uses American Indian-styled traditions and ceremonies to bestow recognition on scouts selected by their peers as best exemplifying the ideals of Scouting. The society was created by E. Urner Goodman, with the...
.
In 1976, he was appointed Electoral Commissioner when he was only twenty-eight years old, making him the youngest person to hold that position. He remained as Electoral Commissioner until 1984. In 1978, he completed the Lawyer's Education Program at the Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. That same year he began working as an assistant to then Governor
Governor of Puerto Rico
The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1948, the Governor has been elected by the people of Puerto Rico...
Rafael Hernández Colón
Rafael Hernández Colón
Rafael Hernández Colón is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fourth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for three non-consecutive terms, from 1973 to 1977 and from 1985 to 1993. An experienced politician, Hernández holds the record for being the youngest Governor of Puerto Rico,...
.
In 1985 he was appointed 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 1988, he was elected Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of San Juan in a close race. He was reelected in 1992 by a much larger margin. In 1994, he was elected president of the Popular Democratic Party
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....
, and in 1996 he ran unsuccessfully for governor of Puerto Rico
Governor of Puerto Rico
The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1948, the Governor has been elected by the people of Puerto Rico...
, losing by a 51% to 45% margin to Pedro Rosselló. Since then he dedicates his time to teaching full time at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
The Inter American University of Puerto Rico —or Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico in Spanish, and often referred as "Inter"— is a private university system in Puerto Rico. It was founded in 1912 in San German, Puerto Rico. The University has campuses in Aguadilla, Arecibo, Barranquitas,...
. He is also a part-time professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
The Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico is a Roman Catholic university located in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It provides courses in the areas of education, business administration, arts and human studies and science, leading to Bachelor's, Master's and Doctorate Degrees. Its campus is also home...
School of Law. Considered Gov. Jesús T. Piñero
Jesus T. Piñero
Jesús Toribio Piñero Jiménez was the first native Puerto Rican to be appointed governor of Puerto Rico by the Government of the United States.-Early years:...
's principal biographer, he is also contributing to the biography of former Puerto Rico Senate Vice President Luis Negrón López
Luis Negrón López
Luis Negrón López was a politician from Puerto Rico. Negrón was among the founding members of the Popular Democratic Party and served as Senator and as candidate for Governor of Puerto Rico in the elections of 1968....
, the PDP's 1968 gubernatorial candidate.
He is a vice-president of the Boy Scouts of America Puerto Rican Council.
In 2003, he was appointed President of the Commission for Electoral Finance Reform. Acevedo is known to be an expert in Puerto Rican electoral law.
Currently he lives in Rio Piedras, where he occasionally plays midnight basketball with his youngest son.
Publications
Héctor Luis Acevedo has published various articles in law journals and newspapers. In 1996, he published his book Will Opens Paths ("La Voluntad Abre Caminos"), and in 1997 Messages from the Mayor's Office ("Mensajes Desde la Alcaldia"). He has edited two books: La Generacion del 40 y la Convencion Constituyente and Los Administradores en la Modernizacion de Puerto Rico. He is also the editor of the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico-sponsored biography on Gov. Jesús T. Piñero. He also edited the biography of Sen. Luis Negrón LópezLuis Negrón López
Luis Negrón López was a politician from Puerto Rico. Negrón was among the founding members of the Popular Democratic Party and served as Senator and as candidate for Governor of Puerto Rico in the elections of 1968....
, published by the Interamerican University Press in September, 2007.