Tatito Hernández

Rafael "Tatito" Hernández Montañez (born April 14, 1972) is a Puerto Rican politician affiliated with the Popular Democratic Party (PPD). He is also a Democrat. He has been a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives since 2009, representing District 11,[1] which includes the town of Dorado and parts of the towns of Vega Alta and Vega Baja. In the 2020 elections he was re-elected and chosen as speaker of the house in 2021.[2][3]

Tatito Hernández
32nd Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives
Assumed office
January 2, 2021
Preceded byCarlos Johnny Méndez
Minority Leader of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives
In office
January 2, 2017 – January 2, 2021
Preceded byJenniffer González
Succeeded byCarlos Johnny Méndez
Member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives
from the 11th district
Assumed office
January 2, 2009
Preceded byLuis Fortuño
Member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives
from the at-large district
In office
2009–2013
Personal details
Born
Rafael Hernández Montañez

(1972-04-14) April 14, 1972
Dorado, Puerto Rico, U.S.
Political partyPopular Democratic
Other political
affiliations		Democratic
EducationPolytechnic University of Puerto Rico (BS)
Interamerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law (JD)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service1990–1998
UnitUnited States Navy Reserve

Early life and education

Rafael "Tatito" Hernández was born April 14, 1972, in Dorado. Graduated from the José S. Alegría High School in Dorado. He received a Bachelor of Science in Surveying and Cartography from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico and completed a Juris doctor at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law.[1] Hernandez also attended the Mortgage Bankers School of Puerto Rico and the Alberto Hernandez Real Estate School, where he took several courses on the origin, processes and analyses of loans, mortgages, and real estate. He served in the United States Navy Reserve for eight years.

Political career

He first ran for a seat in Puerto Rico's House of Representatives as a member of the Popular Democratic Party in 2008, the year of the opposing New Progressive Party's largest landslide election in history. Even though he was not elected as a district representative, the State Elections Commission certified him as an add-on at-large representative under the provisions of the Puerto Rico Constitution that provide for the certification of add-on legislators when the minority falls short in electing 17 members of the House. Once certified, he enjoyed all the privileges of an elected At-Large representative during that term.

In 2012, the Popular Democratic Party renominated Hernández for the general election and was elected outright as District 11's representative, winning with 48.83% of the votes in a three-way race.[4]

In 2016 Hernández was chosen as leader of the PPD minority.[5]

In December 2019, Tatito Hernández endorsed former Vice President and 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and has served as co-chair on his 2020 presidential campaign's "Puerto Rico for Biden" leadership committee.[6] After being chosen as speaker of the House, Hernández hired a former member of the Biden committee as an advisor receiving a $9000 monthly salary.[5][7]

References
  1. "Biografía - Hon. Rafael Hernández Montañez". tucamarapr.org. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  2. "CEE Event". elecciones2020.ceepur.org. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  3. Serrano, Oscar J. "Rafael "Tatito" Hernández es oficialmente el nuevo presidente de la Cámara de Representantes". www.noticel.com. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  4. "Representantes por Distrito, Distrito Rep. 11". CEEPUR. December 26, 2012. Archived from the original on November 27, 2012.
  5. "PPD designa a Tatito Hernández como nuevo portavoz en la Cámara". CB en Español. 2016-11-15. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  6. "Joe Biden picks up endorsements from 25 Puerto Rican leaders". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. 2019-12-05. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  7. "Tatito Hernández contrata a exasesora del comité electoral de Joe Biden, Senado hará lo mismo". Jay Fonseca. 2021-01-22. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
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