Carlos A. Pagán González (born August 27, 1954) is a Puerto Rican politician and former senator. He served as a member of the

Senate of Puerto Rico The Senate of Puerto Rico ( es, Senado de Puerto Rico) is the upper house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, the territorial legislature of Puerto Rico. The Senate, together with the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico, control th ...

from 1997 to 2009, representing the New Progressive Party (PNP).

Early years and studies

Carlos A. Pagán González was born on August 27, 1954 in Mayagüez,

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...

to Hilda González and Manuel Pagán Ramírez. He has a sister, called Carmen. Pagán finished his elementary and high school in Lajas. Then, he received a

Bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

in Political Science, and a

Master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

in Criminal Justice and Public Administration. He achieved both degrees with

magna cum laude Latin honors are a system of Latin phrases used in some colleges and universities to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. The system is primarily used in the United States. It is also used in some So ...

honors from the

Interamerican University of Puerto Rico The Inter American University of Puerto Rico (Spanish: ''Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico''; often abbreviated to ''UIPR'' or ''Inter'') is a private Christian university with its main campus in San Germán, Puerto Rico. It also has c ...

Professional career

Pagán has worked as Director of the Employment Rights Office in Lajas, as well as Regional Coordinator of Social Services of Mayagüez, and Regional Director of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. He has also worked as a History professor at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.

Political career

Pagán showed interest in politics since being a teenager. When he was 14 years old, he was President of the PNP Youth, and then became one of the youngest members of the Municipal Assembly. In

1996 File:1996 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: A Centennial Olympic Park bombing, bomb explodes at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, set off by a radical Anti-abortion violence, anti-abortionist; The center fuel tank explodes on TWA Flight 8 ...

, he was elected to the

for the first time, representing the District of Mayagüez. During that term, he presided the Commission of Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs, and was Vicepresident of the Commission of Employment and Veteran Affairs, among others. Pagán lost the 2000 general elections, but was reelected again in

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 6 ...

. He served as the Majority Whip of his party during this term. Pagán presented his candidacy for the 2008 elections, but in the primaries of the party, Evelyn Vázquez narrowly defeated him, leaving Pagán out of the race. After that, Pagán has worked as a special aide to senator

Norma Burgos Norma E. Burgos Andújar (born October 30, 1954) is a Puerto Rican politician. She has been a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico since 2000. She also served as Lieutenant Governor and the 16th Secretary of State under Governor Pedro Rosselló ...

Personal life

Pagán is married to Ramonita "Cuca" Pabón, who has a master's degree in Counseling and Rehabilitation.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Pagan, Carlos 1954 births People from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico Living people Members of the Senate of Puerto Rico New Progressive Party (Puerto Rico) politicians