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Carlos Antonio Romero Barcel (born in September 4, 1932) was Puerto Rico's fifth democratically elected Governor, the second governor to be elected from the New Progressive Party (PNP) and also Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001.
Romero Barcel is the grandson of Antonio R. Barcel , a former Union Party leader and advocate of Puerto Rican self-determination during the early 20th century.
Education
Carlos Romero Barcel attended Philips Exeter Academy in the state of Massachusetts, graduating in 1949. Later he attendeded, Yale University obtaining a B.A. in Political Science and Economics in 1953. That same year, at age 20, he returned to Puerto Rico and enrolled at the University of Puerto Rico Law School, becoming a licensed lawyer in 1956.
Political career Romero Barcel , an avid supporter of Puerto Rico statehood with the United States of America, was elected Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1968. Later, he became the first hispanic to become president of the National League of Cities. He served as mayor until 1976 when he defeated incumbent Governor Rafael Hern ndez Col n.
Governor Romero Barcel brought well received economic resolutions to the island during his terms in office, emphasising the island's tourism potential. In 1980 he was elected for a second term as governor by a margin of 3,037 votes over again PPD-candidate Rafael Hern ndez Col n. The 1980 governatorial elections was among the closest in Puerto Rican history, and the results controversial because they required intervention of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico to rule whether improperly casted ballots should be counted. He sought to be re-elected for a third term as governor in 1984 but was defeated by Rafael Hern ndez Col n. After the elections, a TV news reporter, Rafael Bracero, inquired Barcel his defeat to which he replied asking Que Derrota? (What defeat?) stating that for him what had occurred was not a defeat, but simply an "electoral loss". The comment has become legendary in Puerto Rican politics. In 1985, he returned to the private sector as a lawyer.
Resident Commissioner In the 1992's elections, he was elected Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico,and relocated to Washington D.C.. He was elected again for the post in 1996. During his tenure as Resident Commissioner he campaigned for Puerto Rican statehood and endorsed the Young Project, which sought to call a referendum to resolve Puerto Rico's political status. In 2000, he was defeated by PPD's An bal Acevedo Vil . He once again sought his party's nomination for the post of Resident Commissioner in 2003, but was defeated by Luis Fortu o. Although he has retired for running in office, he has remained active in PNP political gatherings and is a member of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).
Maravilla Hill controversy Main article: Maravilla Hill case.
On July 25, 1978, two Puerto Rican independence activists died by police gunfire at the Maravilla Hill (Cerro Maravilla). Police knew that the two would be attempting sabotage of communication facilities through an undercover police informant accompanying them. During a public ceremony, Romero Barcelo lauded the police action as heroic. It was later uncovered that the two young men were aprehended after a brief shootout, and summarily murdered on site. Some accused the then Governor of complicity in the affair; others believe he obstructed justice and did not pursue the guilty parties. He was never indicted for any malfeasance regarding the cases; however, legislative investigations and hearings held during the early 1980's adversely affected Romero Barcel 's image. This is believed to have contributed to his failed re-election bid during the 1984 elections.
Legacy Romero Barcel is married to Kate Donnelly. His daughter, Melinda Romero Donelly, is a PNP member of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico. Romero Barcel is a fan of the sport of boxing and advocated for holding world championship bouts in San Juan during his terms in office.
Publications - "Puerto Rico, U.S.A.: The Case for Statehood." Foreign Affairs 59 (Fall 1980): pp. 58-81.
- Statehood Is For the Poor. N.P.: Master Typesetting of P.R. Inc., 1978. Originally published as "La Estatidad es para los Pobres." 1973.
See also
External links - Hispanic Americans in Congress: Carlos Romero-Barcel (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/congress/romerobarcelo.html)
- The National League of Cities (http://www.nlc.org)
- League of United Latin American Citizens (http://www.lulac.org)
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