Jerônimo Rodrigues

Jerônimo Rodrigues Souza (born 3 April 1965) is a Brazilian indigenous politician, agricultural professor, and bureaucrat who was elected Governor of Bahia in 2022 election.[1] Winning against ACM Neto in an upset, Jerônimo, a professor at State University of Feira de Santana,[2] became the first self declared indigenous governor in the history of Brazil.[3] He previously served as an advisor in technology to Governor Jaques Wagner, as an advisor to the Rousseff government, and as head of multiple ministries in the government of Rui Costa, rising through the ranks of governmental management. He is a member of the Workers' Party.[4]

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Rodrigues and the second or paternal family name is Souza.
Jerônimo Rodrigues
Governor of Bahia
Assumed office
1 January 2023
Vice GovernorGeraldo Júnior
Preceded byRui Costa
State Secretary of Education of Bahia
In office
1 February 2019 – 31 March 2022
GovernorRui Costa
Preceded byWalter Pinheiro
Succeeded byDanilo de Melo Souza
State Secretary of Rural Development of Bahia
In office
1 January 2015 – 1 February 2019
GovernorRui Costa
Preceded byRui Costa
Succeeded byJosias Gomes
Personal details
Born
Jerônimo Rodrigues Souza

(1965-04-03) 3 April 1965
Aiquara, Bahia, Brazil
Political partyPT (since 1990)
ResidenceOndina Palace
Alma materFederal University of Bahia
ProfessionProfessor and agricultural engineer

Early life

Born in Palmeirinha, a village in the municipality of Aiquara, to Zeferino Rodrigues, a farmer, and Maria Cerqueira, a seamstress, Jerônimo attended public school in Jequié and received a masters degree in rural development from the Federal University of Bahia in 1991.[5]

Bureaucratic career

Academic career

Jerônimo was accepted to a graduate program at the State University of Feira de Santana. He taught several subjects to undergraduates including Economic Sciences, Accounting Sciences, Law, Administration and Geography. After finishing graduate school, he returned to Aiquara where he was professor at the Colégio Municipal Américo Souto and an advisor to the mayor in agricultural planning. During this period, through student movements, he began to be affiliated with the Workers' Party largely in opposition to the 'Carlism' of Antônio Carlos Magalhães[5]

Jerônimo, after participating in his campaign for governor, was appointed by Jaques Wagner an advisor to the Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation of Bahia in 2007, before becoming a member of the strategic division of the Secretariat of Planning.[5]

National career

After the success of his work and his experience in agricultural economics, he was recommended by Wagner to Dilma Rousseff who appointed him to various agricultural and planning positions, serving as National Secretary for Territorial Development, special advisor to the Ministry of Agrarian Development, executive secretary of the Pro Territories/Cumbre Ibero-American Program and executive secretary of the National Council for Sustainable Rural Development.[5]

State secretariats

After coordinating Rui Costa's campaign for governor, Jerônimo helped create the Secretariat of Rural Development, which he headed from 2015-2018. After coordinating Costa's landslide reelection, he was appointed Secretary of Education.[5]

Secretary of Education

As one of the main state secretaries of the new PT administration, Jerônimo had carte blanche to carry out an investment of R$3.5 billion in public schools. His management focused on offering thousands of vacancies in vocational courses through the Educar para Trabalho program.[5]

During the Covid-19 pandemic, amidst the children's learning difficulties, the secretary created two programs to combat school dropout: the Bolsa-Presença, which offered monthly aid of 150 reals to families of students from the state education network ,and Mais Futuro, whose objective was to keep young people in the university with financial support. It also implemented the Student Food Voucher and Mais Estudos.[5]

Governor of Bahia

2022 election
Main article: 2022 Bahia gubernatorial election
Map of the gubernatorial election, Rodrigues in red, Neto in blue

Jerônimo had the problem of introducing himself to Bahia, as he had largely been a hiden political actor. Slowly gaining in the polls against the former mayor of Salvador ACM Neto, Jerônimo combined support for Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the 2022 Brazilian presidential election with generally rural Catholic support for the PT.[6] Some pointed to a two rallies with Lula as a tipping point in public support after Neto's race scandals.[7]

Winning close to 50% in the first round, Jerônimo's victory was considered an upset. He beat Neto in the second round.[1][8]

Personal life

Jerônimo is married to Tatiana Velloso, a professor at Federal University of Recôncavo Baiano, and has one son.[8]

Jerônimo is self declared indigenous and Catholic.[5]

References
  1. "Jerônimo Rodrigues (PT) é o novo governador da Bahia". Justiça Eleitoral (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  2. "Jerônimo Rodrigues é eleito governador da Bahia | ND Mais". ndmais.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). 30 October 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  3. Gortázar, Naiara Galarraga (25 September 2022). "The color of politics in Brazil". EL PAÍS English Edition. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  4. "Jerônimo (PT), eleito governador da Bahia, agradece vitória em missa na Igreja de Nosso Senhor do Bonfim". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  5. "Jerônimo Rodrigues: quem é o novo governador da Bahia". InfoMoney (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  6. "Jerônimo Rodrigues, do PT, é eleito governador da Bahia". JOTA Info (in Brazilian Portuguese). 30 October 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  7. "Em Salvador, Lula pede que baianos elejam Jerônimo Rodrigues". Valor Econômico (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  8. "Eleito governador da Bahia, Jerônimo dá "sarrada" em show do É O Tchan em Salvador". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 4 November 2022.
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