Alejandro García Padilla facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alejandro García Padilla
García Padilla in 2013
Governor of Puerto Rico
In office January 2, 2013 – January 2, 2017
Preceded by	Luis Fortuño
Succeeded by	Ricardo Rosselló
Member of the Puerto Rican Senate from the at-large district
In office January 2, 2009 – January 1, 2013
Puerto Rico Secretary of Consumer Affairs
In office January 2, 2005 – January 1, 2009
Governor	Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
Preceded by	[data missing]
Succeeded by	Luis Rivera Marín
Personal details
Born	Alejandro Javier García Padilla (1971-08-03) August 3, 1971 (age 54) Coamo, Puerto Rico
Political party	Popular Democratic
Other political affiliations	Democratic
Spouse	Wilma Pastrana ​ (m. 2001)​
Children	3
Education	University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras (BA) Interamerican University of Puerto Rico (JD)

Alejandro Javier García Padilla (born August 3, 1971) is a politician and lawyer from Puerto Rico. He served as the governor of Puerto Rico from 2013 to 2017.

Before becoming governor, García Padilla held several important jobs in Puerto Rico's government. He was the Secretary of Consumer Affairs and later a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico. He also led the Popular Democratic Party. He believes Puerto Rico should remain a self-governing territory of the United States. He is also connected to the Democratic Party in the United States.

As governor, García Padilla worked with the Puerto Rican Senate and House of Representatives. Even though his party controlled both, he found it hard to get some of his own party members to agree with his ideas. Because of this, and because he wasn't very popular, he decided not to run for governor again. He was only the second governor in Puerto Rico's history not to seek a second term.

Early Life and Education

Alejandro García Padilla was born on August 3, 1971, in Coamo, Puerto Rico. He was the youngest of six brothers. His father, Luis, worked hard in many jobs to support their family. His mother, María, was a dedicated homemaker.

García Padilla grew up in Barrio Cuyón, a neighborhood in his hometown. He went to Colegio Valvanera High School. After high school, he studied political science and economics at the University of Puerto Rico. He then earned a law degree from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law. He is the first governor of Puerto Rico to have received all his education on the island. He is also the first governor born in a rural area.

Professional Career

García Padilla started his law career working for Puerto Rico's Court of Appeals. He was a law clerk, which means he helped judges with their research. After that, he became a lawyer, focusing on areas like property and contracts. He also taught law at the Interamerican University.

Later, he worked as an assistant for different committees in the government, including those dealing with women's affairs and agriculture. He was also a member of the board for the Puerto Rico Bar Association, which is a group for lawyers.

Political Journey

In January 2005, García Padilla became the Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Consumer Affairs. This department helps protect the rights of people who buy goods and services. During his time there, he was known for being trustworthy and easy to talk to. He also worked hard to make sure businesses followed the rules.

In 2007, García Padilla left his job as Secretary to run for Senator. In the 2008 elections, he received the most votes among all the people running for Senator. After winning, he became a key member of several important committees in the Senate.

Running for Governor

On March 6, 2011, García Padilla announced he would run for Governor of Puerto Rico in 2012. He also became the leader of the Popular Democratic Party. He chose Rafael Cox Alomar to run with him for Resident Commissioner, a role that represents Puerto Rico in the U.S. Congress.

2012 Election Victory

In the gubernatorial election on November 6, 2012, García Padilla was elected as the next Governor of Puerto Rico. He won by a very small margin against the governor at the time, Luis Fortuño.

Starting as Governor

Puerto Rican law requires a special process when a new governor takes office. García Padilla created a team of advisors to help with this change. Many of these advisors later became part of his official team, known as his Cabinet.

Time as Governor

Taking Office

Alejandro García Padilla officially became the 11th Governor of Puerto Rico on January 2, 2013. The ceremony took place at the Puerto Rico Capitol. It was a special event because it was the first time a governor was sworn in publicly in Puerto Rico's history. Also, five former governors were there, which was another first. After the ceremony, there was a public concert.

First Actions

After becoming governor, García Padilla chose a team of people from government and private businesses to form his Cabinet. He worked with the Legislative Assembly, which includes the Senate and the House of Representatives. One of his biggest challenges was dealing with Puerto Rico's large government debt and budget problems.

On his second day in office, he issued several important orders. One order sent the Puerto Rico National Guard to help watch Puerto Rico's coasts and ports. This was to help stop illegal immigration and the flow of illegal goods. Another order made sure that his Chief of Staff had to be consulted before new people were hired or contracts were made. A third order aimed to control government spending on things like credit cards, phones, and travel.

Policies at Home

In June 2013, García Padilla signed a law that lowered the sales tax charged by towns in Puerto Rico. This meant the total sales tax went down slightly. However, this change was not fully put into effect, and the sales tax rate stayed the same for a while. His government also added a new tax on gasoline.

To help with Puerto Rico's money problems, García Padilla started a plan to save money. This included raising some taxes and making changes to how public employees' pensions worked. These steps were meant to reduce the government's budget deficit.

In June 2015, Governor García Padilla announced that Puerto Rico was in a very difficult financial situation. He stated that the island's debt was "not payable." To help with this crisis, in June 2016, U.S. President Barack Obama signed a law called PROMESA. This law created a special board to oversee Puerto Rico's budget and finances.

International Relations

In June 2013, García Padilla visited Spain. He met with companies that make medicines and medical devices. He wanted to show them that Puerto Rico was a good place to invest their money.

In July 2013, his government made a trade agreement with Colombia. Under this agreement, Colombia would buy medicine from Puerto Rico. Colombia would also share its knowledge in different industries. In return, Puerto Rico and Colombia would work together to make products. This would help Colombia because Puerto Rico has no tariffs (extra taxes) when exporting to the United States.

After Being Governor

After his term as governor ended, Alejandro García Padilla continued to be involved in politics. During the 2020 United States presidential election, he supported Joe Biden's campaign for president.

Family Life

Alejandro García Padilla married Wilma Pastrana, who is a Certified Public Accountant, on April 7, 2001. They have three children named Ana, Juan Pablo, and Diego. His older brother, Antonio García Padilla, used to be the president of the University of Puerto Rico. Another brother, Juan Carlos García Padilla, is the mayor of Coamo, their hometown.

See also

In Spanish: Alejandro García Padilla para niños