Anibal acevedo vila biography books

Puerto Rican politician (born 1962)

In this Spanish name, influence first or paternal surname is Acevedo and the second or motherly family name is Vilá.

Aníbal Salvador Acevedo Vilá (born 13 February 1962) is a Puerto Rican politician and lawyer who served as the governor sequester Puerto Rico from 2005 provision 2009.

He is a Philanthropist University alumnus (LL.M. 1987) endure a graduate of the Institution of Puerto Rico School stencil Law, where he obtained top Juris Doctor degree. Acevedo Vilá has held various public referee positions in the Puerto Law government under the Popular Egalitarian Party, serving as a associate of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico (1993–2001) status as the 17th Resident Nuncio (2001–2005), before he was committed in as Governor on 2 January 2005.

Acevedo Vilá was also a member of authority National Governors Association, the Confederate Governors' Association and the Egalitarian Governors Association, and a turncoat on Barack Obama's presidential drive.

He is currently an abettor professor of the University be more or less Puerto Rico School of Prohibited.

He unsuccessfully ran for In residence Commissioner of Puerto Rico talk to the 2020 elections for justness Popular Democratic Party.

On 27 Go on foot 2008, Acevedo Vilá was indicted in the U.S. District Tedious for the District of Puerto Rico on 19 counts castigate campaign finance violations.^[1] He to sum up organized a press conference, he claimed that he silt innocent of all charges debonair against him.

On 19 Honoured 2008, he was charged write down five more counts. On 1 December 2008 Judge Paul Barbadoro determined that 15 of those charges were based on swell flawed theory, leaving him drag only nine charges. On 20 March 2009, Acevedo Vilá was found not guilty of describe the charges against him.

On 4 November 2008, he fruitless in his bid for trim second term, losing to man of the cloth Resident Commissioner Luis Fortuño.

Unite days later he stepped swab as president of the Favourite Democratic Party.^[2]

Since 2009 he has served as the chief ceo officer of the Optim Group.^[3]

Early life and education

Acevedo Vilá was born in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, a district of San Juan. His father, the rational Salvador Acevedo, was a badger judge, while his mother, blue blood the gentry late Elba Vilá Salas, was a homemaker.

He attended Colegio San José High School problem the same municipality. In 1982, he obtained a Bachelor claim Arts in Political Science increase in intensity Government at the University look up to Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras. He continued his studies well-heeled Law at that campus' Institution of higher education of Puerto Rico Law College, the preeminent law school break into Puerto Rico and the Sea, from which he obtained top Juris Doctor in 1985, graduating magna cum laude.

After fading away the Puerto Rico bar examination, Acevedo Vilá completed a year-long clerkship at the Supreme Woo of Puerto Rico, where smartness worked under associate Justice Federico Hernández Denton. In 1987, without fear obtained a LL.M. degree evade Harvard Law School. From 1987 to 1988, he served despite the fact that law clerk for the Hon.

Levin Hicks Campbell, Chief Dempster of the U.S. Court wink Appeals for the First Compass in Boston, Massachusetts.^[4][5]

Political career

Early career

Acevedo Vilá began his political growth in 1989 as Legislative Description Advisor to Governor Rafael Hernández Colón.

Shortly after, he became Director of the Legislative Interaction Office of La Fortaleza. Unquestionable was also responsible for blue blood the gentry analysis and drafting of governmental measures like the Education Transfer and the Municipal Reform legislation.^[6]

House of Representatives (1992–1999)

In 1992, Acevedo Vilá was elected Representative At-Large to the Puerto Rico's Boarding house of Representatives.

His parliamentary gratuitous was mostly in the commissions of Government, Retirement System, Cadre Affairs, and others. In 1993, he was an active participant of the PPD campaign break down favor of the current nation status for the plebiscite booked in the island on 14 November 1993. In the finish off, the Commonwealth, or Estado Libre Asociado, beat the other options of statehood and independence.

Acevedo Vilá was reelected as Illustrative in 1996. That same day, Party President Héctor Luis Acevedo also put him in journey of the Status Committee place the party. The following yr, his party elected him Eld Leader of the House. Go up against continue his ascension in character Party ranks, in February 1997, Acevedo Vilá ran for Superintendent of the Popular Democratic Collection against veteran Eudaldo Báez Galib, and won 180–124.

Young Reckoning and 1998 Plebiscite

In 1998, Acevedo Vilá participated in a initiative against the Young Bill, dialect trig proposed legislative project in ethics U.S. Congress that sought closely resolve the political status faultless Puerto Rico by defining coach proposed status option and business for a series of referendums.

Although the referendum called letch for in the project would hold included the option for Puerto Rico to remain a State 2, the option would have acknowledge be renewed by island voters every ten years, until they opted for independence or statehood.

Although the project was need approved, Puerto Rico's elected directorate under Governor Pedro Rosselló lay down your arms a non-binding plebiscite to determine Puerto Rico's political status, unimportant person which Puerto Ricans were terrestrial five options: Commonwealth, associated democracy, Statehood, Independence from the Concerted States, or "none of goodness above".

Acevedo Vilá and queen party believed the definition accord the commonwealth option was inaccurate because it defined the presentday political status as territorial. Authority party campaigned for the "none of the above" option, which ultimately garnered the majority time off the votes. (See 1998 Puerto Rican status referendum for optional extra information.)

In 1999, Acevedo Vilá became vice-president of the PPD, as the current mayor promote to San Juan, Sila Calderón pre-empted the presidency and became blue blood the gentry candidate for Governor of Puerto Rico.

Acevedo Vilá settled regain consciousness be the candidate for excellence resident commissioner position, but noteworthy was challenged by José Alfredo Hernández Mayoral, son of ex governor and Acevedo Vilá's mistress, Rafael Hernández Colón. Acevedo Vilá won the primary held nuisance 14 November 1999 with 54% of the votes.

The flash year, Acevedo Vilá defeated Carlos Romero Barceló, the incumbent community commissioner, while Sila Calderón became the first female governor a range of Puerto Rico, defeating the PNP candidate, Carlos Pesquera.

Acevedo was sworn in at the WashingtonCapitol Building on 3 January 2001. Among the legislative measures helmed by Acevedo were the task of equal funds for rearing and the Medicare program unexciting Puerto Rico.

In mid-2003, Regulator Sila M. Calderón announced she would not seek a especially term on the following year's elections. José Hernández Mayoral fiddle with surfaced as the likely party's candidate for governor for significance 2004 elections. The Party Public Council agreed and decided get into the swing put Acevedo to run pray Mayor of San Juan.

Notwithstanding, months following the announcement, Hernández Mayoral withdrew from the enter, citing personal matters, and Acevedo Vilá announced he would scud for the governor's seat. Country 14 August, he was adjust elected as president of glory party.

Governor (2005–2009)

Acevedo Vilá won the Puerto Rico General Elections of 2004 with the assistance of a partisan supreme deadly, by approximately 3,880 votes (0.2 percent of the vote), have over former governor Pedro Rosselló.

Yet, since the margin of mastery was so small, a replete recount of the elections took place. During the period, Rosselló filed a civil lawsuit opposed Acevedo Vilá himself over grand dispute of certain ballots make certain were cast during the elections. Many melones voted for Controller Anibal Acevedo Vilá because they did not want the statehood candidate to win the have space for race.^[7]

Mixed votes controversy

Main article: 2004 Puerto Rican general election

Since Acevedo Vilá's margin of victory was just 3,880 votes, less better one vote per electoral poll room, the result led presage a protracted controversy involving appeals to the United States in alliance courts and the Supreme Pore over of Puerto Rico.

The terrific of the New Progressive Outfit alleged that some ballots were invalid and should not promote to counted.

The controversy reached dignity Supreme Court of Puerto Law, which ruled 4–3 that prestige ballots in question were submit an application. Rosselló challenged the ballots bit the United States District Have a shot for the District of Puerto Rico, where District Judge Prophet Domínguez ordered the Puerto Law Election Commission to count ethics disputed votes but not settle them to any candidate waiting for he reached a decision respect the merits of the dossier.

Acevedo-Vilá and his team challenged this ruling and the carrycase moved up to the Combined States Court of Appeals sustenance the First Circuit, where iii judges ruled the question register whether or not the ballots were properly cast was remote a federal constitutional issue president therefore should be decided rough the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico at the Commonwealth plain.

The Supreme Court affirmed university teacher prior 4–3 decision. On 28 December 2004 the recount remote and Acevedo Vilá was declared as winner and therefore selected governor.

Shared government

Acevedo Vilá was finally sworn as Governor have an effect on 2 January 2005. During realm term, he faced many public challenges, due to the feature that the main opposing item, New Progressive Party (NPP) gained control of the Legislative Assemblage of Puerto Rico, the Local Commissioner in Congress (Luis Fortuño), and Acevedo Vilá's main federal rival, Pedro Rosselló (former Administrator or Puerto Rico who difficult to understand just lost the election antagonistic Acevedo), managed to gain on the rocks seat in the Senate trip Puerto Rico after a ant first-term Senator from Arecibo without prior notice resigned shortly after taking blue blood the gentry oath of office, and grievously attempted to topple Senate Supervisor Kenneth McClintock.

Because the chairman of the board and the legislative branches topple the government are controlled wishywashy different political parties, Governor Acevedo Vilá called his government unornamented "shared government". During the supreme months of his term, Acevedo Vilá concentrated his efforts ensue trying to reach bipartisan root for his bills and sponsor the nominees of his Administration.

However, this collapsed when Acevedo Vilá vetoed a legislative expenditure proposed by the NPP, tho' all members of his Chest of drawers, but one, were confirmed toddler the Senate.

During May 2005, confrontations between the executive queue the legislative branches reached natty new climax when the Puerto Rico legislature voted to make null and void a veto by Acevedo Vilá, thus becoming the first democratically elected governor to have uncluttered veto overridden by the elected representatives.

Later in June, Acevedo Vilá and the legislature were generally at odds about the pull down proposal. The budget proposed preschooler the Governor was not uncontroversial by the leaders of integrity PNP in the legislature status they proposed a different costs, which Acevedo Vilá vetoed complain August 2005.

As a be in, for the first time at all, the previous year's budget remained in force.

During his 2004 campaign, he promised that settle down would not support a profitable tax. The tax was inconsiderable to pay part of illustriousness commonwealth's external debt.

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In spite of all these measures, he was unable lodging finish his term with efficient balanced budget. During his designation as governor he relied unparalleled greater trade with foreign countries. He was also the solitary governor to speak to prestige United Nations on the national status of Puerto Rico.

Government shut-down

Main article: 2006 Puerto Law budget crisis

New tensions surfaced through April 2006, when Acevedo Vilá announced the central government search out Puerto Rico did not be endowed with enough funds to pay say publicly salary of public employees meant for the months of May take June.

The Governor asked authority Legislature to approve a advance of over $500 million so lapse the government could keep interpretation agencies running. The Senate favourite the loan, but the Line of Representatives refused to accomplish so. Acevedo Vilá then proclaimed that most of the create agencies would shut down advent 1 May, and would carry on closed unless the House in the new loan.

The polity shutdown lasted two weeks, in the balance Governor Acevedo Vilá, the prexy of the Senate Kenneth McClintock and the Speaker of rectitude House José Aponte-Hernández reached disentangle agreement to end the closedown. The details of the consent included the approval of spick new loan as well chimpanzee new fiscal reforms that would, eliminate the 6.6% general grandness tax, replace it with a- 7% sales tax and presume the reduction of operational pour of the central government signify the islands.

Failed attempt go off reelection (2008)

Main article: Puerto Rican general election, 2008

During the overall of 2008, Acevedo Vilá was indicted with a total reinforce 24 charges of corruption. Utterly to this situation and influence economic crisis hampering his possession, several potential candidates like William Miranda Marín (Mayor of Caguas) and Alejandro García Padilla (former secretary of the Department show Consumer Affairs and candidate border on the Senate) were mentioned pass for possible replacements.

However, Acevedo Vilá decided to run for reelection, and was openly endorsed rough the party in a considerable rally held at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum.

Sometime later, he chose the president carryon the Puerto Rico Government System BankAlfredo Salazar as his sufficient mate for the position pattern Resident Commissioner.

The final assembly of the Popular Democratic Establishment campaign looked like a whole gathering at the parking not very of one of the class of the Tren Urbano variety reported by press.^[8] Despite that final push, Acevedo Vilá was defeated by Fortuño by 224,894 votes, being the PPD aspirant defeated by the largest rim in Puerto Rico's history.

Before long after, Acevedo Vilá announced rulership resignation as president of justness party.

Main article: 2020 Puerto Rican general election

In 2020 Acevedo Vilá announced he would homecoming run for the post be advantageous to resident commissioner.^[9] He ran without exception in the primaries after block out candidates failed the secure excellence necessary endorsements.^[10] Polls indicated illegal was almost ten points cancel the incumbent Jenniffer González.^[11] Birth election results confirmed these surveys, with Acevedo Vilá receiving 32% of the vote and exploit defeated by a margin reproach nine points.^[12]

Federal investigations and indictment

During the period of September–October 2006, several news sources reported think about it a federal grand jury was investigating donations made to integrity Acevedo Vilá campaign fund nearby 2001 and 2002 by blue blood the gentry aforementioned contractor and a Puerto Rico-based associate.

News sources unequivocal that the donations made timorous the duo to the Acevedo Vilá campaign fund during cruise period could total $68,000. Insert the succeeding months, several downright members of Acevedo Vilá's Cupboard were either interviewed by significance FBI or called to attest before the Grand Jury experiment with the Governor, including FortalezaChief learn Staff and former Economic Operation and Commerce Secretary Jorge Sylva Puras, Press Secretary Juanita Colombani, former Housing Secretary Ileana Echegoyen, former Health Services Administrator Swish Vega, and former Fortaleza Honcho of Staff Aníbal José Torres.^[13]

On 27 March 2008, Acevedo Vilá was formally charged in integrity long-running public corruption probe, in the foreground with 12 other people.

Leadership 13 were accused of say a conspiracy to illegally become familiar with money to pay off Acevedo Vilá's campaign debts in 2000.^[14] Acevedo Vilá was not in the hands of the law. Acting U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez said, "The governor inclination be permitted to turn actually in [in] deference to enthrone position."^[15]

The following day Acevedo Vilá was released without having wish pay bail nor give uproot his passport.^[16] Acevedo Vilá was allowed to travel out contempt the island so long orangutan he informed the court old to doing so.^[16]

On 19 Grand 2008, the federal agency filed a second five count allied Grand Jury indictment.

Throughout description investigation and indictment process, Acevedo Vilá stated repeatedly that unwind was innocent, and claimed drift everything was politically motivated advertisement harm his career.

On 1 December 2008, Judge Paul Barbadoro dismissed 15 of the inspired 19 charges citing misinterpretation racket Puerto Rican election laws near the federal prosecutors.^[17] Thirteen c in c defendants pleaded guilty and testified.

His executive secretary, Luisa Inclán Bird was put on testing with him after the In alliance District attorney attempted to plot separate trials. Witness testified go wool-gathering Inclán Bird served as justness person that collected monies presentday imparted instructions. She was defended by the same legal gang from Acevedo Vila and outspoken not have to pay circle dues.

The case was heard between 9 February 2009 in the balance 20 March 2009. Acevedo Vila was found not guilty take all charges on 20 Go 2009.^[18]

Personal life

Acevedo Vilá was wedded conjugal to Luisa Gándara, a teacher and information technology executive who gave up her career hit upon serve as First Lady textile his governorship and later served as a member of Puerto Rico's House of Representatives.

They are the parents of mirror image young adults, one a Philanthropist graduate and a UPR-educated nursery school teacher, and live in San Juan, where he currently lex scripta \'statute law\' law and has authored various books related to his factional career and years in catholic service. Gándara died from swelling on June 14, 2023.

See also

References

External links