Juan R. Melecio-Machuca
Encyclopedia
Juan R. Melecio-Machuca was the longest-serving Director of the Office of Legislative Services of Puerto Rico
, from 1981 to 1988. He was subsequently appointed a Superior Court judge by Governor Rafael Hernández Colón
.
In the 1990s he was nominated as a tri-partisan consensus candidate to serve as chairman of the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission.
A former member of the pro-status quo Popular Democratic Party
, he surprised political observers in 2003 when he announced his conversion as a statehooder and accepted an invitation to serve as the chairman of former Governor Pedro Rosselló
's 2004 campaign to return to the Governor's Mansion, La Fortaleza
, for a third non-consecutive term.
He served as senior advisor to the gubernatorial campaign of former Resident Commissioner Luis Fortuño
, who was Rosselló's successful running mate when the former governor lost in 2004, and was subsequently appointed by Governor Fortuño to head Puerto Rico's Trade Office in the Dominican Republic, where he currently serves.
He is one of a handful of Puerto Ricans who have served in all three branches of government, the Legislative, Judicial and Executive branches.
Office of Legislative Services of Puerto Rico
The Office of Legislative Services of Puerto Rico was created on January 27, 1954 to provide research, translation, library and legislative drafting services to all members of the Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly. Its duties are similar to those of the Congressional Research Service.The Office is...
, from 1981 to 1988. He was subsequently appointed a Superior Court judge by Governor 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 the 1990s he was nominated as a tri-partisan consensus candidate to serve as chairman of the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission.
A former member of the pro-status quo 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....
, he surprised political observers in 2003 when he announced his conversion as a statehooder and accepted an invitation to serve as the chairman of former Governor Pedro Rosselló
Pedro Rosselló
Pedro Juan Rosselló González, M.D., , is a Puerto Rican physician and politician who served as the sixth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001...
's 2004 campaign to return to the Governor's Mansion, La Fortaleza
La Fortaleza
La Fortaleza is the current official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico. It was built between 1533 and 1540 to defend the harbor of San Juan. The structure is also known as Palacio de Santa Catalina . It is the oldest executive mansion in the New World...
, for a third non-consecutive term.
He served as senior advisor to the gubernatorial campaign of former Resident Commissioner Luis Fortuño
Luis Fortuño
Luis Guillermo Fortuño Burset is the governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States of America. Fortuño is also the president of the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico , a member of the Republican National Committee, and will be president of the Council of State...
, who was Rosselló's successful running mate when the former governor lost in 2004, and was subsequently appointed by Governor Fortuño to head Puerto Rico's Trade Office in the Dominican Republic, where he currently serves.
He is one of a handful of Puerto Ricans who have served in all three branches of government, the Legislative, Judicial and Executive branches.