Carlos Johnny Méndez

Carlos J. "Johnny" Méndez Núñez (born June 30, 1960) is a politician from Fajardo, Puerto Rico. He represents District 36 in the Puerto Rico House of Representatives[1] and assumed the role of Majority Leader upon the resignation of Rolando Crespo as a member of the House in February, 2011.[2][3]

Johnny Méndez
Minority Leader of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives
Assumed office
January 2, 2021
Preceded byTatito Hernandez
31st Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives
In office
January 9, 2017 – January 2, 2021
Preceded byRoberto Rivera Ruiz de Porras
Succeeded byTatito Hernandez
Minority Whip of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives
In office
January 14, 2013 – January 2, 2017
Preceded byAngel Pérez Otero
Succeeded byRamón Luis Cruz
Majority Leader of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives
In office
February 25, 2011 – January 1, 2013
Preceded byRolando Crespo
Succeeded byCharlie Hernández
Member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives
from the 36th district
Assumed office
January 1, 2005
Preceded byJorge Fuentes
Personal details
Born (1960-06-30) June 30, 1960
Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Political partyNew Progressive
Other political
affiliations		Republican
EducationUniversity of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras (BA)
Interamerican University, San Juan (JD)

Méndez is a supporter of statehood for Puerto Rico and is affiliated with the New Progressive Party (PNP).

Méndez, who studied law and resides in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, simultaneously chairs the Government Committee of the House. He is a member of the National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators.

Early life and education

Carlos Johnny Méndez Nuñez was born and raised in Fajardo. In 1978 he graduated with honors from the Santiago Veve Calzada High School.[4]

After graduating, Méndez was admitted to the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras where he completed a Bachelor's degree with a major in Labor Relations and a minor in Business Administration. He graduated in 1982, and continued studies in Law at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law. He received his Juris doctor in 1986.[4]

Public service

Méndez began working in 1986 for the Municipality of San Juan, specifically for the Training and Employment Program, where he was in charge of writing service contracts, as well as the supervision of them. In 1987, he went to work for the Legal Division of the Medical Services Administration of Puerto Rico.

In 1989, Méndez was recruited by his sister's [Diana Méndez] husband, the Mayor of Fajardo, Aníbal Meléndez Rivera, to work as Director of the Office of Federal Affairs. After that, he occupied several positions within the City Administration.

Served as the Executive director of the Northeast Consortium (Consorcio Del Noreste) from 1997 to 2004.

Political career

Méndez was first elected to the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico at the 2004 general election. During his first term, he served as President of the Commission of Employment and Labor Relations. He also served as Vicepresident of the Commissions of Law, Municipal Affairs, and others.

After being reelected in 2008, Méndez was appointed as President of the Government Commission.[1] On February 25, 2011, he was elected by his colleagues as Majority Leader, filling the vacancy left by Rolando Crespo.[2]

Méndez was reelected for a third term at the 2012 general election. Méndez was reelected for a fourth term at the 2016 general election and served as the 31st Speaker of the House. In 2020 he was elected to a fifth term in the House, although his party lost their majority and he relinquished the Speakership. He currently serves as Minority Leader of the House.[5]

References
  1. Elecciones Generales 2008: Representante Distrito 36 Archived April 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine on CEEPUR
  2. Confirman a Johnny Méndez como portavoz de la Cámara Archived 2011-08-27 at the Wayback Machine on Primera Hora (February 26, 2011)
  3. Confirmado Johnny Méndez como portavoz de la Cámara Archived March 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine on El Vocero (February 26, 2011)
  4. "Biografía - Hon. Carlos "Johnny" Méndez Núñez". Cámara de Representantes de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2020-10-30. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  5. "A new way of governing in Puerto Rico". The Hill. 2016-11-28. Archived from the original on 2019-04-18. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
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