José Enrique Arrarás
Encyclopedia
José Enrique Arrarás Mir (born September 25, 1937) is a notable Puerto Rican
politician.
. He obtained his primary and secondary education at Immaculate Conception Academy in Mayagüez and Mercersburg Academy
in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania
.
in 1959. As a Fulbright Scholar to the United Kingdom
, he did post-graduate work in political, economic and social problems of underdeveloped countries at Victoria University of Manchester
as well as Oxford University.
Back in Puerto Rico, he obtained his L.L.B. law degree (Magna Cum Laude and Valedictorian) at the University of Puerto Rico
in 1963, received his Doctor in Civil Law (Magna Cum Laude) from the University of Santiago de Compostela
in Spain
in 1971.
He also holds a Doctorate Honoris Causa from World University.
as his special assistant in 1962, even before graduating from law school. He began teaching law at the University of Puerto Rico School of Law shortly after obtaining his law degree in 1963, while remaining the Chancellor's trusted aide until 1964, when he began a two-year stint as the UPR Río Piedras Campus Dean of Administration and Acting Chancellor. As Benítez moved on to become the institution's first system-wide President, Arrarás served as the first Chancellor of the University of Puerto Rico's Mayagüez Campus for over 5 years, from 1966 to 1971.
Years later, he would also teach at the Interamerican University's School of Law in San Juan.
banner, Arrarás was appointed in 1973 as the Secretary of the new Housing Department by incoming Gov. Rafael Hernández Colón
, a position he held until 1976, when he once again ran unsuccessfully for Mayor, losing by a landslide to then Rep. Hernán Padilla
.
He began his first ten-year stint in the Puerto Rico House of Representatives in 1978, serving as chairman of the powerful Budget and Finance Committee from 1981 to 1984.
During his second stint in the House, from 1993 to 1996, in which he served two years as House Minority Leader, he faced ethics charges and a Justice Department referral to the Special Independent Prosecutor. Arrarás did not seek re-election in the 1996 General Elections.
He served as Vice President of Puerto Rico's Olympic Committee from 1969 to 1972 before serving as the committee's president from 1973 to 1976, at the same time that he served as President of the Puerto Rico Equestrian Federation.
In 2000 he served as owner of the Mayagüez Basketball Team. From 2001 on, he serves once again on the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee and president of the Puerto Rico Amateur Athletics Federation, and since 2002 is also the Commissioner of the Inter-University Athletic League (LAI by its Spanish acronym).
In 2004, as a member of the International Athletics Federation (IAFF), he was appointed to its Youth & School Committee.
, Astrid, José Enrique, Jr., Patricia, Gabriel Enrique, Enrique Antonio and Isabel Celeste. María Celeste's TV journalism career has proudly turned Arrarás, in spite of his extensive life achievements, in "María Celeste's father".
His wife, Brenda López, was elected in 2008 as an at-large member of the House of Representatives 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...
politician.
Early life
Arrarás was born in Mayagüez, Puerto RicoMayagüez, Puerto Rico
Mayagüez is the eighth-largest municipality of Puerto Rico. Originally founded as "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria" it is also known as "La Sultana del Oeste" , "Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" , or "Ciudad del Mangó"...
. He obtained his primary and secondary education at Immaculate Conception Academy in Mayagüez and Mercersburg Academy
Mercersburg Academy
Mercersburg Academy is an independent, coeducational boarding school for grades 9-12 located in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, United States. The school's mission is:...
in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania
Mercersburg, Pennsylvania
Mercersburg is a borough in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, southwest of Harrisburg. Originally called Black Town, it was incorporated in 1831. In 1900, 956 people lived here, and in 1910, 1,410 people lived here...
.
Education
He obtained a B.A. in Public and International Affairs (Magna Cum Laude) at Princeton UniversityPrinceton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1959. As a Fulbright Scholar to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, he did post-graduate work in political, economic and social problems of underdeveloped countries at Victoria University of Manchester
Victoria University of Manchester
The Victoria University of Manchester was a university in Manchester, England. On 1 October 2004 it merged with the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology to form a new entity, "The University of Manchester".-1851 - 1951:The University was founded in 1851 as Owens College,...
as well as Oxford University.
Back in Puerto Rico, he obtained his L.L.B. law degree (Magna Cum Laude and Valedictorian) at the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
in 1963, received his Doctor in Civil Law (Magna Cum Laude) from the University of Santiago de Compostela
University of Santiago de Compostela
The Royal University of Santiago de Compostela - USC is a public university located in the city of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain. A second campus is located in Lugo, Galicia....
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in 1971.
He also holds a Doctorate Honoris Causa from World University.
Public service at University of Puerto Rico
Arrarás began serving UPR Chancellor Jaime BenítezJaime Benitez
Jaime Benítez Rexach was a Puerto Rican author, academic and politician. He was the longest serving chancellor and the first president of the University of Puerto Rico.-Early life:...
as his special assistant in 1962, even before graduating from law school. He began teaching law at the University of Puerto Rico School of Law shortly after obtaining his law degree in 1963, while remaining the Chancellor's trusted aide until 1964, when he began a two-year stint as the UPR Río Piedras Campus Dean of Administration and Acting Chancellor. As Benítez moved on to become the institution's first system-wide President, Arrarás served as the first Chancellor of the University of Puerto Rico's Mayagüez Campus for over 5 years, from 1966 to 1971.
Years later, he would also teach at the Interamerican University's School of Law in San Juan.
Political life and state government service
After an unsuccessful run for Mayor of San Juan in 1972 under the Popular Democratic PartyPopular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth....
banner, Arrarás was appointed in 1973 as the Secretary of the new Housing Department by incoming Gov. Rafael Hernández Colón
Rafael Hernández Colón
Rafael Hernández Colón is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fourth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for three non-consecutive terms, from 1973 to 1977 and from 1985 to 1993. An experienced politician, Hernández holds the record for being the youngest Governor of Puerto Rico,...
, a position he held until 1976, when he once again ran unsuccessfully for Mayor, losing by a landslide to then Rep. Hernán Padilla
Hernán Padilla
Hernán Padilla in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, is a retired physician and former two-term Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, the oldest city in the United States....
.
He began his first ten-year stint in the Puerto Rico House of Representatives in 1978, serving as chairman of the powerful Budget and Finance Committee from 1981 to 1984.
During his second stint in the House, from 1993 to 1996, in which he served two years as House Minority Leader, he faced ethics charges and a Justice Department referral to the Special Independent Prosecutor. Arrarás did not seek re-election in the 1996 General Elections.
Sports life
In addition to all that Arrarás accomplished in academia and public office, he has been one of the most prominent figures in organized sports in Puerto Rico for the past four decades.He served as Vice President of Puerto Rico's Olympic Committee from 1969 to 1972 before serving as the committee's president from 1973 to 1976, at the same time that he served as President of the Puerto Rico Equestrian Federation.
In 2000 he served as owner of the Mayagüez Basketball Team. From 2001 on, he serves once again on the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee and president of the Puerto Rico Amateur Athletics Federation, and since 2002 is also the Commissioner of the Inter-University Athletic League (LAI by its Spanish acronym).
In 2004, as a member of the International Athletics Federation (IAFF), he was appointed to its Youth & School Committee.
Professional and private life
An attorney, José Enrique Arrarás served as Senior Partner at the Goldman Antonnetti law firm from 1989 to 1992 and currently works out of the Castellanos Law Firm office in San Juan. He is married to professor Brenda López González and is father of seven children: Maria CelesteMaría Celeste Arrarás
Maria Celeste Arrarás is a Puerto Rican journalist and actress and the host and producer of Spanish language news program Al Rojo Vivo Con Maria Celeste.- Biography :...
, Astrid, José Enrique, Jr., Patricia, Gabriel Enrique, Enrique Antonio and Isabel Celeste. María Celeste's TV journalism career has proudly turned Arrarás, in spite of his extensive life achievements, in "María Celeste's father".
His wife, Brenda López, was elected in 2008 as an at-large member of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico
House of Representatives of Puerto Rico
The House of Representatives of Puerto Rico is the lower house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, the territorial legislature of Puerto Rico...
.
Publications
Arrarás' extensive writing includes the following publications:- “Judicial Attitudes and Amendments to the Compact”, Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, Vol. XXXI (1962)pp. 65–78.
- “Spontaneous Manifestations, Objections and the First Opportunity Doctrine”. Pueblo vs. Oquendo. 83 D.P.R. 234 (1961).
- Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, Vol. XXXII, Núm. 1 (1963), pp. 141–150 “The Insanes’ capacity to Contract”.
- Revista Jurídica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, Vol. XXXII, Núm. 1 (1963) pp. 69–80 “Consensual Marriage in the United States of America”.
- Revista Estudios de Derechos, (Republica de Colombia), Vol. 63 (1963) pp. 53–62 “Concubinage in Latin America”.
- Journal of Family Law, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 330–339 (1963) .
- “A note on Free Union in Latin American”, Marriage and Family Living”, 1964
- “The Commonwealth Concept”, oral presentation made at the Second Conference of Caribbean Scholars, in the University of Western Indians, (Kingston, Jamaica). Published by Instituto de Estudios del Caribe de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. (1965) .
- Doctoral Thesis: “El Derecho Matrimonial Puertorriqueño”
See also
Sources
- http://galeria.universia.pr/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=-245&pos=12
- http://www.jpxenterprise.com/castlaw/attorneys-jose_enrique_arraras.html
- http://www.olimpur.com/puerto_rico_en_el_olimpismo.htm