Melinda Romero Donnelly
Encyclopedia
Melinda Kathleen Romero Donnelly is a Puerto Rican
politician, Senator, and former Representative
. She is the youngest daughter of former Governor of Puerto Rico
Carlos Romero Barceló
and Kate Donnelly
.
, Carlos Romero Barceló
, and Kate Donnelly
. Her great-granddaughter is Antonio R. Barceló
, first President of the Senate of Puerto Rico
. She is the youngest of four siblings.
In 1993, Melinda Romero was selected Vice-president of the Youth Organization of the New Progressive Party
(PNP) in San Juan.
with a 53.8% of the votes. After being sworn in, she took over the Commission of Youth Affairs and Public Safety, San Juan Development, and Legislative Internships.
While serving as a representative, Romero also ran for President of the PNP Youth Organization in 1998, being the first legislator to occupy that position. For the 2000 general elections
, she presented her candidacy for Representative At-Large and ended up being the representative with most votes among her fellow PNP candidates, and the second one with most votes among all candidates.
However, in 2003, she decided not to seek reelection due to several health problems.
in the Senate of Puerto Rico
. She received the support of several leaders of the party, namely Representative Albita Rivera, and Mayor of Toa Baja
and Vice-president of the Mayors Federation, Aníbal Vega Borges. After an internal process, she was chosen. Romero Donnelly was sworn in on June 15, 2009 in a ceremony in the Rotunda
of the Capitol of Puerto Rico
.
In 2002, she and her son, Christopher, presented health issues which prevented her from attending her job. She was originally diagnosed with a viral meningitis
, but the diagnose was later changed to encephalitis
. After tests were done at the University of Johns Hopkins Hospital
, doctors recommended that she submitted to a treatment for pain control. The symptoms of her illness were strong headache
s and disorientation.
This health issues forced her to not seek reelection for her position as member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives in 2004. She instead dedicated time to improve her health and spend more time with her family.
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
politician, Senator, and former Representative
Representative
Representative may refer to:*Representation*Legislator, someone who is part of a legislature*House of Representatives*Representative sample in statistics...
. She is the youngest daughter of former 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...
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...
and Kate Donnelly
Kate Donnelly
Kate Donnelly is the wife of former Governor of Puerto Rico Carlos Romero Barceló, and served as First Lady from 1977 to 1984. Prior to that, she served for eight years as First Lady of San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital city....
.
Early years
Melinda Romero was born on October 8, 1971 to then-mayor of San JuanSan 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...
, 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...
, and Kate Donnelly
Kate Donnelly
Kate Donnelly is the wife of former Governor of Puerto Rico Carlos Romero Barceló, and served as First Lady from 1977 to 1984. Prior to that, she served for eight years as First Lady of San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital city....
. Her great-granddaughter is Antonio R. Barceló
Antonio R. Barceló
Antonio Rafael Barceló y Martinez was a lawyer, businessman and the patriarch of what was to become one of Puerto Rico's most prominent political families...
, first President of the Senate of Puerto Rico
Senate of Puerto Rico
The Senate of Puerto Rico is the upper house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, the territorial legislature of Puerto Rico. The Senate is composed of 27 senators, representing eight constituent senatorial districts across the commonwealth, with two senators elected per district; an...
. She is the youngest of four siblings.
In 1993, Melinda Romero was selected Vice-president of the Youth Organization of 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...
(PNP) in San Juan.
Representative
In 1995, Melinda Romero decided to run for Representative and won the primary for District 1. She was elected in the 1996 general electionsPuerto Rican general election, 1996
General elections were held in Puerto Rico on 5 November 1996. Pedro Rosselló of the New Progressive Party was re-elected Governor, whilst the PNP also won a majority of seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Voter turnout was between 80% and 82%.-Governor:-Resident...
with a 53.8% of the votes. After being sworn in, she took over the Commission of Youth Affairs and Public Safety, San Juan Development, and Legislative Internships.
While serving as a representative, Romero also ran for President of the PNP Youth Organization in 1998, being the first legislator to occupy that position. For the 2000 general elections
Puerto Rican general election, 2000
General elections were held in Puerto Rico on 7 November 2000. Sila María Calderón of the Popular Democratic Party was elected Governor, whilst the PPD also won a majority of seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Voter turnout was between 80% and 82%.-Governor:-Resident...
, she presented her candidacy for Representative At-Large and ended up being the representative with most votes among her fellow PNP candidates, and the second one with most votes among all candidates.
However, in 2003, she decided not to seek reelection due to several health problems.
Senator
In 2008, Romero decided to aspire for the vacancy left by Jorge de Castro FontJorge de Castro Font
Jorge Adolfo de Castro-Font is a former Puerto Rican Senator and former member of the House of Representatives. Originally, he was a member of the Popular Democratic Party but became an independent representative in 2001 after inner disputes with his party...
in the Senate of Puerto Rico
Senate of Puerto Rico
The Senate of Puerto Rico is the upper house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, the territorial legislature of Puerto Rico. The Senate is composed of 27 senators, representing eight constituent senatorial districts across the commonwealth, with two senators elected per district; an...
. She received the support of several leaders of the party, namely Representative Albita Rivera, and Mayor of Toa Baja
Toa Baja, Puerto Rico
Toa Baja is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the northern coast, north of Toa Alta and Bayamón; east of Dorado; and west of Cataño. Toa Baja is spread over 5 wards and Toa Baja Pueblo . It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.Toa Baja considered to be a...
and Vice-president of the Mayors Federation, Aníbal Vega Borges. After an internal process, she was chosen. Romero Donnelly was sworn in on June 15, 2009 in a ceremony in the Rotunda
Rotunda (architecture)
A rotunda is any building with a circular ground plan, sometimes covered by a dome. It can also refer to a round room within a building . The Pantheon in Rome is a famous rotunda. A Band Rotunda is a circular bandstand, usually with a dome...
of the Capitol of Puerto Rico
Capitol of Puerto Rico
The Capitol of Puerto Rico is located on the Islet of San Juan just outside the walls of Old San Juan. The building is home to the bicameral Legislative Assembly, composed of the House of Representatives and Senate...
.
Personal life
Melinda Romero has been married twice. She had two children with second husband, William Fuentes: Kathleen Nicole (born on March 28, 1998) and Christopher Alexander (born on August 28, 2000). She separated from Fuentes on March 2002, and the couple was divorced in June 2003.In 2002, she and her son, Christopher, presented health issues which prevented her from attending her job. She was originally diagnosed with a viral meningitis
Viral meningitis
Viral meningitis refers to meningitis caused by a viral infection. It is sometimes referred to as "aseptic meningitis" in contrast to meningitis caused by bacteria.An example is lymphocytic choriomeningitis....
, but the diagnose was later changed to encephalitis
Encephalitis
Encephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain. Encephalitis with meningitis is known as meningoencephalitis. Symptoms include headache, fever, confusion, drowsiness, and fatigue...
. After tests were done at the University of Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins Hospital
The Johns Hopkins Hospital is the teaching hospital and biomedical research facility of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, located in Baltimore, Maryland . It was founded using money from a bequest by philanthropist Johns Hopkins...
, doctors recommended that she submitted to a treatment for pain control. The symptoms of her illness were strong headache
Headache
A headache or cephalalgia is pain anywhere in the region of the head or neck. It can be a symptom of a number of different conditions of the head and neck. The brain tissue itself is not sensitive to pain because it lacks pain receptors. Rather, the pain is caused by disturbance of the...
s and disorientation.
This health issues forced her to not seek reelection for her position as member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives in 2004. She instead dedicated time to improve her health and spend more time with her family.
External links
- Biografía de Melinda Romero on SenadoPR