Sila María González Calderón
Encyclopedia
Sila María González Calderón (born May 3, 1965 on San Juan
, Puerto Rico
) is a Puerto Rican
Senator. She is the daughter of former Governor of Puerto Rico
Sila Calderón, and served as her First Lady
, along with her sister, María Elena
.
, Puerto Rico
to engineer Francisco Xavier González and Sila Calderón. She studied elementary and junior high school at the Colegio Puertorriqueño de Niñas in Guaynabo
, finishing high school at Saint John's School
in Condado.
In 1987, she obtained her Bachelor's degree
in Economy from the University of Pennsylvania
with a concentration on International Commerce from Wharton School of Economics
. She continued studying law at the University of Boston, graduating in 1990. After passing the bar exam, she started working as an attorney on Massachussets.
area of the Environmental Protection Agency in Boston. In 1992, she returned to Puerto Rico and obtained the license to practice law in the island, on Federal Court, and on the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston
.
She started working as a corporative attorney for the Ledesma, Palou & Miranda Law Firm, and then for O'Neill & Borges where she specialized in real estate
and notary
. She then worked for the Maldonado Nicolai Law Firm for two years, mostly on commercial closings for financial institutions.
, and Sila María was appointed by Calderón as her First Lady
, along with her sister María Elena.
on the 2004 general elections. She was reelected on 2008
. During her time in the Senate, she has been the speaker for commissions on Education, Family Affairs, Treasury, Government, and Ethics.
In September 2011, González announced she wouldn't run for a third term in the Senate. However, she later presented her candidacy for reelection.
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...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
) is a Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
Senator. She is the 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...
Sila Calderón, and served as her First Lady
First Lady of Puerto Rico
First Lady of Puerto Rico is the title traditionally given to the spouse of the Governor of Puerto Rico. The current First Lady is Lucé Vela.-Current:...
, along with her sister, María Elena
María Elena González Calderón
María Elena González Calderón is a Puerto Rican attorney. She is the daughter of former Governor of Puerto Rico Sila Calderón, and served as her First Lady, along with her sister, Sila María....
.
Early years and studies
Sila María González was born on May 3, 1965 on 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...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
to engineer Francisco Xavier González and Sila Calderón. She studied elementary and junior high school at the Colegio Puertorriqueño de Niñas in Guaynabo
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Guaynabo is a municipality in the northern part of Puerto Rico, located in the northern coast of the island, north of Aguas Buenas; south of Cataño; east of Bayamón; and west of San Juan...
, finishing high school at Saint John's School
Saint John's School (San Juan)
Saint John's School is a private coeducational school located in the Condado neighbourhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico.-Background:The grades of the school are from Pre-Pre-Kinder through 12th Year. Elementary is from grades Pre-Pre-Kinder through Fifth Grade. Middle school begins in Grade 6 through...
in Condado.
In 1987, she obtained her Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Economy from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
with a concentration on International Commerce from Wharton School of Economics
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
The Wharton School is the business school of the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wharton was the world’s first collegiate business school and the first business school in the United States...
. She continued studying law at the University of Boston, graduating in 1990. After passing the bar exam, she started working as an attorney on Massachussets.
Professional career: 1990-2000
Sila María González worked as Assistant Regional Counsel in the SuperfundSuperfund
Superfund is the common name for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 , a United States federal law designed to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances...
area of the Environmental Protection Agency in Boston. In 1992, she returned to Puerto Rico and obtained the license to practice law in the island, on Federal Court, and on the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston
United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, USA. The first court session was held in Boston in 1789. The second term was held in Salem in 1790 and until 1813 court session locations...
.
She started working as a corporative attorney for the Ledesma, Palou & Miranda Law Firm, and then for O'Neill & Borges where she specialized in real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
and notary
Notary
A notary is a lawyer or person with legal training who is licensed by the state to perform acts in legal affairs, in particular witnessing signatures on documents...
. She then worked for the Maldonado Nicolai Law Firm for two years, mostly on commercial closings for financial institutions.
First Lady of Puerto Rico: 2000-2004
In 2000, her mother, Sila Calderón was elected Governor of Puerto RicoGovernor 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...
, and Sila María was appointed by Calderón as her First Lady
First Lady of Puerto Rico
First Lady of Puerto Rico is the title traditionally given to the spouse of the Governor of Puerto Rico. The current First Lady is Lucé Vela.-Current:...
, along with her sister María Elena.
Senator: 2004-present
Sila María was elected to the Senate of Puerto RicoSenate 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...
on the 2004 general elections. She was reelected on 2008
Puerto Rican general election, 2008
The Puerto Rico general election of 2008, held on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 was the most recent election to select the Governor of Puerto Rico.The election was won by Luis G...
. During her time in the Senate, she has been the speaker for commissions on Education, Family Affairs, Treasury, Government, and Ethics.
In September 2011, González announced she wouldn't run for a third term in the Senate. However, she later presented her candidacy for reelection.
Personal life
Sila María González has three children from her first marriage. During her time as First Lady, she was in a relationship with reporter Ramón "Papo" Brenes. In recent years, she has been in a relationship with businessman Manuel Rivera.External links
- Hon. Sila M. González Biography on SenadoPR