Manuel Cidre

Manuel Cidre
220px Independent Candidate for Governor of Puerto Rico 2016
Independent candidate for Governor of Puerto Rico
Election date November 8, 2016
Opponents	David Bernier Ricardo Rosselló María de Lourdes Santiago Rafael Bernabé Riefkohl Alexandra Lúgaro
Incumbent	Alejandro García Padilla
Personal details
Born	Manuel Cidre Miranda 1953 Havana, Cuba
Occupation	businessman
Website	www.manuelcidre.com

Manuel "Manolo" Cidre Miranda (born 1953) is a Cuban-born Puerto Rican businessman and politician who became, on December 1, 2015, an official candidate for Governor of Puerto Rico. He announced his candidacy on November 9.

Biography

Manuel Cidre arrived in Puerto Rico from his native Cuba at a young age, first living in the northern coastal city of Arecibo. In his new country, he eventually dedicated himself to the business world, opening, in 1978, along with brother Guillermo Cidre, a company in Bayamon named "Los Cidrines", which sells bakery goods and bread.

His commitment to Puerto Rico led him to serve multiple community and philantropic organizations in Puerto Rico:

• Fundación Comunitaria
• SER de Puerto Rico
• Echar Pa’ Lante
• Compañía para el Desarrollo Integral de la Península de Cantera
• Agenda Ciudadana
• Instituto de Política Pública Universidad Metropolitana Sistema Ana G. Méndez (UMET)
• Centro Margarita

At the administrative level and as a business and civic leader, he has excelled in:

• President of "Asociación Productos de Puerto Rico"
• President of "Asociación de Industriales de Puerto Rico",
• President and founder of "Alianza para el Desarrollo de PR"
• President of the Board of Directors of Small Business Development & Technology Center

Awards

His work has been recognized by community and professional organizations such as:

• "Premio al Buen Vecino" - American Red Cross

• Distinguished Citizen Award -Boys Scouts of América

• Corporate Social Responsibility Award – "Asociación de Mercadeo, Industria y Distribución de Alimentos M.I.D.A."

• Citizen of the Year: Private Sector – Caribbean Business

• Ten Top Business Leader – Caribbean Business (2011,2012, 2013, 2014)

• Hall of Fame -Ten Top Business Leader 2015

• Business Achievement Award – Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico

• Zenit Award 2010 Citizen of the Year – "Cámara de Comercio de Puerto Rico"

• Héctor Jiménez Juarbe Award – "Asociación de Industriales de Puerto Rico"

• Special Award of the President– "Cámara de Comercio de Ponce y Sur de PR"

• Distinguished Entrepreneur Award – "Asociación Hombres y Mujeres de Empresa"

• Excellence in Private Enterprise – "Compañía Fomento Económico de Puerto Rico"

• Entrepreneurship Award – Ernest & Young Entrepreneur of the Year

• Manufacturer of the Year – "Asociación de Mercadeo, Industria y Distribución de Alimento M.I.D.A."

• "Industrial del Año" – "Asociación de Industriales de Puerto Rico"

Personal life

Manuel Cidre has 4 children and 6 grandchildren. He is married to Anabelle Colón.

Political career

Cidre will run for Governor of Puerto Rico during the Puerto Rican general election, 2016 as an independent candidate. Asked by Carmen Jovet which of the three main ideologies in Puerto Rico (statehood, free association or independence) he identified with, he declined to identify himself with any of them but commented that he is against Puerto Rico's status as a colony. In the debate of Young in Telemundo he said will not support the statehood.

Endorsements

Cosculluela Puerto Rican singer and songwriter