Jorge de Castro Font
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jorge Adolfo de Castro-Font (born on September 10, 1963) is a Senator of Puerto Rico, the second most senior member of that body, and a former member of the House of Representatives. He was expelled from the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) in 2001 and later became a member of the New Progressive Party (PNP) in 2002. He was subsequently expelled from the NPP in August 2005 as a result of his support for the current Senate leadership at the expense of former governor, 2004 NPP gubernatorial candidate, and current fellow Senator Pedro Rossello. Rossello unsuccessfully attempted to unseat the current Senate president, Senator Kenneth McClintock and, when unsuccessful, expelled all those Senators from his party who refused to support the former governor, including De Castro Font. De Castro does not recognize the party's decision to expel him and continues to identify himself both as a supporter of statehood for Puerto Rico as well as a member of the New Progressive Party.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Born to Rafael Adolfo de Castro Campos and María Eugenia Font González, De Castro Font studied issues relating to law and the justice system in Sacred Heart University, and subsequently obtained a Master's degree in Puerto Rican history. He is a current member of the Puerto Rico National Guard.
[edit] Legislative career
De Castro Font began his career in politics by being elected to the P.R. House of Representatives in 1988 at the age of 24, becoming the youngest elected representative up to that point. He was reelected to the post in the 1992, 1996, and 2000 general elections under the Popular Democratic Party.
[edit] Independent candidate in 2001
In August 2001, following internal disputes within the PPD, De Castro Font left the party to become an independent representative. There are several versions of the nature and manner of him leaving the party. While De Castro states that he willfully left the party, others suggest he was forced out.
On September 27, 2002, he announced that he was joining the ranks of the PNP party and announces his candidacy for a Senate position under the PNP party. He would go on to win the party primaries and eventually the Senate seat. The PNP majority caucus elected him as the Senate Majority Leader in early 2005.
[edit] NPP expulsion
In early 2005, following a narrow defeat in the 2004 gubernatorial race, former governor Pedro Rossello announced he was aspiring for a Senate seat vacated by a freshman Senator for the district of Arecibo. After joining the Senate, he expressed his hopes of becoming president in the now NPP-controlled Senate, and asked his fellow party Senators support him. However, several Senators, including De Castro Font, staged a protest and refused to give the necessary votes to the former governor. This prompted the NPP board of directors to expel several of these Senators including De Castro Font, while suspending others.
As a result of the May 2005 confrontation in the Puerto Rico Senate's majority NPP delegation, De Castro Font gave up his post as the Senate Majority Leader, now held by Sen. Margarita Nolasco. Nevertheless, he retains the powerful chairmanship of the Senate Rules Committee and continues to direct all floor activities in the Senate. As a result of the split, he has also become chairman of the Judiciary Committee and the Municipal and Financial Affairs Committee, and co-chair of the Joint Select Committee on the Civil Code and the Joint Select Committee on the Penal Code.
[edit] Controversies
De Castro-Font has used his position as chairman of the Senate Rules Committee to attempt to block legislative initiatives with which he disagrees, regardless of how much support they may have among lawmakers or the people of Puerto Rico. He attempted to block consideration of legislation that would recognize the right of gays and lesbians to enjoy the same recognition of their partnerships as married and unmarried heterosexual couples. His decision was overruled by the majority of the members of the Committee.[1] Because of his position on this matter, he has been accused of homophobia, although he has since expressed openness towards the subject matter.
He also opposes legislation that would strictly regulate the licensing of motorcycle drivers on the island as well as the use of those types of vehicles. The purpose of the proposed legislation is to counter the huge increase in accidents and deaths that the island has suffered due to the large increase in use of small scooters on the island. He is blocking this legislation by not allowing it into the calendar, on the excuse that he is a motorcycle rider and will not allow any legislative intrusion into his hobby.
[edit] External links
- Senate of Puerto Rico Biography (in Spanish)
