Manuel A. Torres
Encyclopedia
Manuel A. Torres-Nieves was the Secretary of the Senate of Puerto Rico
during the tumultuous years since the 2004 general election in which the Senate has been controlled by the pro-statehood New Progressive Party
(NPP) while the governorship has been controlled by the pro-status quo Popular Democratic Party
and is now serving his second term as Senate Secretary after having served as Acting President of the Senate
from January 1–12, 2009, between the Senate presidencies of Kenneth McClintock
and Thomas Rivera Schatz
.
on April 9, 1965, and a long-time resident of Puerto Rico's largest public housing project, with his parents' help he was able to excel in school and obtain his B.A. degree from the University of Puerto Rico
and complete part of the coursework required for a Master's degree. He is also a graduate of the Puerto Rico National Guard
's Language School. A member of the Police Athletic League
and the Boys and Girls Club of San Juan, he also excelled in basketball. A widower, he is the father of Jessica, a college student, and Alex Manuel, a high school student.
For two years, he served as one of Puerto Rico's two representatives in the Council of State Governments
Committee on Suggested State Legislation.
Gov. Pedro Rosselló
appointed Torres to the board of directors of the Puerto Rico State Insurance Fund Corporation
, which has a monopoly on workmen's compensation, and to the board of the Puerto Rico Automobile Accident Compensation Administration
(ACAA). He was confirmed both times by the Senate of Puerto Rico
in a unanimous vote.
From 2001 to 2004 he was Chief of Staff to the Senate Minority Leader and legislative advisor to the Deputy Mayor of the City of San Juan.
Within the NPP, Torres was active for years in its NPP Youth organization. He also was member of the party's Rules Committee, as well as its State Board.
After the 2004 election, incoming Senate President Kenneth McClintock
appointed Torres to head the Senate's transition committee and on January 10, 2005, Torres was elected by the Senate as its Secretary, its top staffer.
During the past term, the Senate Secretary confronted the particular challenges created by the split within the majority party caucus over whether former governor Pedro Rosselló
should topple McClintock and replace him as Senate President, a split which ended in March 2008 after party primaries, and by the fact that there is a partisan split between the Governor and the Legislative Assembly.
Torres has probably been the most high-profile Senate Secretary since 1949, when the Senate Presidency ceased to be the most powerful elective position held by a Puerto Rican, upon the election of Senate President Luis Muñoz Marín
as Puerto Rico's first elective governor.
On January 1, 2009, after McClintock's term ended, Torres became Acting President
of the Senate, gavelling in the new Senate on January 12, when the legislative body elected Thomas Rivera Schatz
as the fourteenth President of the Senate.
Rivera Schatz announced on November 26, 2008 that Torres would be reelected as Secretary of the Senate on January 12, 2009, potentially making him the longest-serving Senate Secretary in recent memory and the first to serve two consecutive terms under different Senate presidents.
Senate of Puerto Rico
The Senate of Puerto Rico is the upper house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, the territorial legislature of Puerto Rico. The Senate is composed of 27 senators, representing eight constituent senatorial districts across the commonwealth, with two senators elected per district; an...
during the tumultuous years since the 2004 general election in which the Senate has been controlled by the pro-statehood New Progressive Party
New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico
The New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that advocates for Puerto Rico's admission to the United States of America as the 51st state...
(NPP) while the governorship has been controlled by the pro-status quo Popular Democratic Party
Popular 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....
and is now serving his second term as Senate Secretary after having served as Acting President of the Senate
President of the Senate
The President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate, and is the speaker of other assemblies.The senate president often ranks high in a jurisdiction's succession for its top executive office: for example, the President of the Senate of Nigeria is second in line...
from January 1–12, 2009, between the Senate presidencies of Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth D. McClintock-Hernández is the current Secretary of State of Puerto Rico. Mr. McClintock served as co-chair of Hillary Clinton presidential campaign's National Hispanic Leadership Council in 2008, co-chaired Clinton's successful Puerto Rico primary campaign that year and served as the...
and Thomas Rivera Schatz
Thomas Rivera Schatz
Thomas "Tommy" Rivera Schätz is a Puerto Rican politician currently serving as the fourteenth President of the Senate of Puerto Rico. He is affiliated with the pro-statehood New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico and the United States Republican Party...
.
Private life
Born in San Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
on April 9, 1965, and a long-time resident of Puerto Rico's largest public housing project, with his parents' help he was able to excel in school and obtain his B.A. degree from 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...
and complete part of the coursework required for a Master's degree. He is also a graduate of the Puerto Rico National Guard
Puerto Rico National Guard
The Puerto Rico National Guard is the component of the United States National Guard in the U.S. Territory of Puerto Rico. It comprises both Army and Air National Guard components with a total authorized strength of 10,000 soldiers and airmen. The Constitution of the United States specifically...
's Language School. A member of the Police Athletic League
Police Athletic League
The Police Athletic League is an organization in many American police departments in which members of the police force coach young people, both boys and girls, in sports, and help with homework and other school-related activities. The purpose is to build character, help strengthen police-community...
and the Boys and Girls Club of San Juan, he also excelled in basketball. A widower, he is the father of Jessica, a college student, and Alex Manuel, a high school student.
Public life
Torres began his legislative career in 1991 as a Minority Staff in the Youth Affairs Committee of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives. He subsequently served in the highly sensitive position of Director of the Ethics Committee Office at the House, Chief of Staff of the Majority Leader's Office and Advisor to the Director of the Puerto Rico Office of Legislative Services.For two years, he served as one of Puerto Rico's two representatives in the Council of State Governments
Council of State Governments
The Council of State Governments is a nonpartisan non-profit organization in the United States serving the state governments. It serves state legislatures, state courts, and executive branch officials and agencies, and is the only multi-branch organization of state governments in the United...
Committee on Suggested State Legislation.
Gov. Pedro Rosselló
Pedro Rosselló
Pedro Juan Rosselló González, M.D., , is a Puerto Rican physician and politician who served as the sixth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001...
appointed Torres to the board of directors of the Puerto Rico State Insurance Fund Corporation
Puerto Rico State Insurance Fund Corporation
The Puerto Rico State Insurance Fund Corporation is a public corporation created in the 1940's as the "Fondo del Seguro del Estado" to provide workmens' compensation in Puerto Rico....
, which has a monopoly on workmen's compensation, and to the board of the Puerto Rico Automobile Accident Compensation Administration
Puerto Rico Automobile Accident Compensation Administration
The Puerto Rico Automobile Accident Compensation Administration is a public corporation that provides compensation for the medical and disability expenses resulting from traffic accidents in Puerto Rico...
(ACAA). He was confirmed both times by the Senate of Puerto Rico
Senate of Puerto Rico
The Senate of Puerto Rico is the upper house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, the territorial legislature of Puerto Rico. The Senate is composed of 27 senators, representing eight constituent senatorial districts across the commonwealth, with two senators elected per district; an...
in a unanimous vote.
From 2001 to 2004 he was Chief of Staff to the Senate Minority Leader and legislative advisor to the Deputy Mayor of the City of San Juan.
Within the NPP, Torres was active for years in its NPP Youth organization. He also was member of the party's Rules Committee, as well as its State Board.
After the 2004 election, incoming Senate President Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth D. McClintock-Hernández is the current Secretary of State of Puerto Rico. Mr. McClintock served as co-chair of Hillary Clinton presidential campaign's National Hispanic Leadership Council in 2008, co-chaired Clinton's successful Puerto Rico primary campaign that year and served as the...
appointed Torres to head the Senate's transition committee and on January 10, 2005, Torres was elected by the Senate as its Secretary, its top staffer.
During the past term, the Senate Secretary confronted the particular challenges created by the split within the majority party caucus over whether former governor Pedro Rosselló
Pedro Rosselló
Pedro Juan Rosselló González, M.D., , is a Puerto Rican physician and politician who served as the sixth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001...
should topple McClintock and replace him as Senate President, a split which ended in March 2008 after party primaries, and by the fact that there is a partisan split between the Governor and the Legislative Assembly.
Torres has probably been the most high-profile Senate Secretary since 1949, when the Senate Presidency ceased to be the most powerful elective position held by a Puerto Rican, upon the election of Senate President Luis Muñoz Marín
Luis Muñoz Marín
Don José Luis Alberto Muñoz Marín was a Puerto Rican poet, journalist, and politician. Regarded as the "father of modern Puerto Rico," he was the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico. Muñoz Marín was the son of Luis Muñoz Rivera, a renowned autonomist leader...
as Puerto Rico's first elective governor.
On January 1, 2009, after McClintock's term ended, Torres became Acting President
Acting president
An Acting President is a person who temporarily fills the role of an organization's or country's president, either when the real president is unavailable or when the post is vacant .-See also:*Acting *Acting President of Pakistan*Acting President of Malta*Acting President of...
of the Senate, gavelling in the new Senate on January 12, when the legislative body elected Thomas Rivera Schatz
Thomas Rivera Schatz
Thomas "Tommy" Rivera Schätz is a Puerto Rican politician currently serving as the fourteenth President of the Senate of Puerto Rico. He is affiliated with the pro-statehood New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico and the United States Republican Party...
as the fourteenth President of the Senate.
Rivera Schatz announced on November 26, 2008 that Torres would be reelected as Secretary of the Senate on January 12, 2009, potentially making him the longest-serving Senate Secretary in recent memory and the first to serve two consecutive terms under different Senate presidents.
Sources
- http://senadopr.us