Carlos Méndez Martínez
Carlos Méndez Martínez | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Aguadilla | |
| Assumed office January 2, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Agnes Bermúdez Acevedo |
| Chair of the Republican Party of Puerto Rico | |
| In office 2007 – November 1, 2015 | |
| Deputy | Jenniffer González |
| Preceded by | Tiody de Jesús Vda. Ferré |
| Succeeded by | Jenniffer González |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 30, 1943 Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, U.S. |
| Political party | New Progressive Party (PNP) |
| Spouse | Mildred Cortes Ramos Heidi G. Mayer (m. 1977; div. 1998) |
| Children | Mark A. Méndez |
| Residence(s) | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico |
| Education | University of Washington |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
Carlos Méndez Martínez (born June 30, 1943) is an American politician and current mayor of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
Early life and education
Carlos Méndez-Martínez was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico to Pablo Méndez-Ellinger, a tobacconist from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico and Rosa Martínez-Rosa, a housewife from Rincón, Puerto Rico. His dad died when Méndez was one year old and his mother died when he was 9 years old.[2] Without having graduated from high school, at age 17, he joined the United States Army, becoming a veteran at the age of 19. He studied silversmithing and gemology and worked in both. He also worked in the real estate business.[3] At the age of 45, Méndez took the GED and studied an Associate of Arts in Political Science at a community college and continued to study a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of Washington, graduating in 1992.[4] Méndez, wrote a book titled Tuve que contar mi historia,[5] it was published in 2009 by Editorial Tiempo Nuevo.[6]
Political career
In 1995, he returned to Puerto Rico, and ran for mayor of Aguadilla at the 1996 general elections. He has been reelected in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016. In the 2008 elections, he received almost 70% of the votes. His margin of victory was one of the largest among elected mayors in that election.[7] He was the president of the Republican Party of Puerto Rico from 2007 to 2015 and president of the Puerto Rico Mayors Federation.[8] In 2012, Méndez endorsed the nomination of Mitt Romney for president of the United States in the 2012 Republican National Convention.[9] After 24 years as mayor, Méndez announced he would not seek re-election in 2020.[10]
Among his notable works as mayor is the Aguadilla Ice Skating Arena,[11] Ramey Base Bowling Alley, Aguadilla Electronic Library, Atlantic Garden Veterans Cemetery,[12] Paseo Real Marina,[13] Las Cascadas Hotel,[14] Aguadilla City Center,[15] Skate and Splash Park,[16] and Tres Palmas Park.[17]
Personal life
He married on January 1, 1977 with Heidi G. Méndez (née Mayer) in King County, Seattle, Washington. They had a son, Mark A. Méndez. Méndez divorced in 1998, after 21 years of marriage. In 1999, he met his current wife Mildred Cortes-Ramos.[18]
References
- ^ http://endata.prdecide.elnuevodia.com/alcaldes/5
- ^ http://www.primerahora.com/noticias/policia-tribunales/nota/alcaldedeaguadillaestimalasperdidasdelfuegodesuresidenciaen150mil-340510/
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jedJmYRZtqI
- ^ http://www.wipr.pr/video-reconocen-exito-de-programa-contra-desercion-escolar-uno-a-uno/
- ^ https://www.libreriaisla.com/collections/catalogo-general-de-libros/carlos-mendez-martinez
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jedJmYRZtqI
- ^ Carmen Milagros Díaz (January 15, 2012). "Hablan los alcaldes invencibles". El Vocero. Archived from the original on 2012-03-01.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ https://laislaoeste.com/2018/06/05/aguadilla-y-moca-favorecen-el-cobro-por-recogido-de-basura/
- ^ http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=100229
- ^ https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/politica/nota/elalcaldedeaguadillaanunciaqueseretiraenel2020-2382560/
- ^ http://endata.prdecide.elnuevodia.com/alcaldes/5
- ^ https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/nota/cementerioparaveteranos-1103306/
- ^ http://www.primerahora.com/elnorte/noticias/puerto-rico/nota/mejorasenaguadillaprometenatraeramuchosmasturistas-1205171/
- ^ https://www.elnuevodia.com/negocios/finanzas/nota/lascascadasdeaguadillatendrahotel-1002524/
- ^ https://www.elnuevodia.com/negocios/finanzas/nota/encuentraaguadillasumotoraldesarrollo-979607/
- ^ https://www.elnuevodia.com/negocios/empresas/nota/proliferanlasempresasmunicipales-2296472/
- ^ https://www.elnuevodia.com/negocios/finanzas/nota/encuentraaguadillasumotoraldesarrollo-979607/
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI4nJaLvJP0