Thomas Rivera Schatz
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| Thomas Rivera Schätz | |
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| Member of the Puerto Rico Senate from the At Large district |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2009 |
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| 14th President of the Senate of Puerto Rico | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 10, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Kenneth McClintock |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | New Progressive Party |
| Spouse(s) | Katherine Urbina (1994-present) |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Thomas "Tommy" Rivera Schätz (born June 10, 1966) 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. Likewise, he has served as an international guest observer in the electoral processes of various Caribbean and Latin American nations.[citation needed].
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[edit] Early life and studies
Rivera Schätz was born on June 10, 1966 in the Bronx Borough of New York City. He is the son of José A. “Nía” Rivera, a former mayor of Trujillo Alto, and Christina Schätz.
Rivera Schatz attended high school at Colegio Santa Cruz graduating in 1984. He then went to the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico where he obtained his Bachelor's degree in Political Science, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Soon afterwards he was accepted at the Interamerican University Law School, where he graduated in 1992. A year later, he passed the bar exam required to practice law in Puerto Rico.[1]
Rivera Schätz started his legal career as a legal advisor in the Senate and House of Representatives of Puerto Rico. In 1996, Governor Pedro Rosselló appointed him as a prosecutor at the Department of Justice. After finishing his service as a prosecutor, he returned to private practice, tending both criminal and civil cases.
[edit] Political career
[edit] Electoral Commissioner and Secretary General: 2000-2007
In 2000, Rivera Schatz was named Electoral Commissioner for the pro-statehood New Progressive Party (PNP). During this time, Rivera Schatz supported President of the PNP, Carlos Pesquera. On June 20, 2002, Schatz was detained, along with Pesquera, after an incident in the office of Women Affairs. Pesquera attempted to enter the offices by force to make a statement by putting the flag of the United States in the government office, after it was removed. As a result, a riot ensued.[2][3]
Two years later, Party President Pedro Rosselló named Rivera Schatz as Secretary General of the PNP in addition to his current position as Electoral Commissioner. He served both positions simultaneously until August 1, 2007, when he decided to run for Senator.
[edit] Senator: 2008-present
Rivera Schatz ran for Senator at the PNP primaries where he won a slot in the ballot, receiving the second-most votes. In the 2008 general elections, Rivera Schatz was elected Senator. His fellow Senators then appointed him to be the 14th President of Puerto Rico’s Senate. As such, he selected the following persons for his team:
- Senator Margarita Nolasco as Senate President Pro tempore
- Senator Larry Seilhamer as Majority Leader
- Senator Melinda Romero as Majority Whip
- Roberto "Junior" Maldonado as Chief Administrative Officer of the Senate.
- Senate Secretary Manuel A. Torres was nominated by Rivera Schatz and reelected to a second term, becoming the first Senate secretary to serve under two different Senate Presidents
- Incumbent Superintendent of the Capitol, Eliezer Velázquez, was nominated by Rivera Schatz and ratified by House Speaker Jennifer González for a second term, a first for a Superintendent.
Rivera Schatz was sworn in to his current post on January 12, 2009.
[edit] Personal life
Thomas Rivera Schatz married Katherine Alfonso Urbina on July 16, 1994. Three years later, he had a daughter from another relationship with Dalcia Lebrón Nieves, a government employee.[4][5]
Rivera Schatz and his father are avid collectors of antique cars.[6][7]
[edit] See also
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Kenneth McClintock |
President of the Senate of Puerto Rico 2009- |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
[edit] References
- ^ Hon. Thomas Rivera Schatz on SenadoPR
- ^ Citados los líderes del PNP on Puerto Rico Herald; from Associated Press
- ^ Encuentran causa contra Pesquera y tres novoprogresistas por motín on Puerto Rico Herald (June 29, 2002)
- ^ Rivera Schatz y su familia "no tradicional" on NotiCel; Rivera, Manuel Ernesto (01/06/2011)
- ^ Certificado de Matrimonio: Tomas Rivera Schatz
- ^ Rivera Schatz "quema la fiebre" en Pennsylvania on El Nuevo Día; Rosario, Frances (October 2, 2010)
- ^ Detras del político on El Vocero; Méndez, Milly (February 11, 2011)
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