Héctor O'Neill García (born June 20, 1945) is a Puerto Rican politician. He was mayor of his hometown of Guaynabo. O'Neill is affiliated with the New Progressive Party (PNP) and has also served as a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico.

Early years and studies

Héctor O'Neill García was born on June 20, 1945 in Barrio Hato Nuevo of Guaynabo. His parents are Adrián O'Neill Meléndez and Heriberta García González. O'Neill studied his primary school at the Agustín Lizardi School in Hato Nuevo. He continued his studies at the Miguel Such Vocational School in Río Piedras where he graduated with a degree in car body repair and mechanics. Already in his 50s, he enrolled at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus in Río Piedras. In 1999, he obtained his bachelor's degree in business administration, with a major in management. He was exalted to the Board of Honor due to his high GPA.

Professional career

Shortly after graduating in the 1960s, O'Neill opened his own mechanic shop. Eventually he started working as an insurance adjuster. In 1970, he worked as an inspector for the Puerto Rico Cooperative. From 1973 to 1977, he worked as administrator of Public Works in Guaynabo.

Political career

O'Neill began his political career in 1970 when he served as Secretary of the political organization Acción Progresista. In 1971, he was elected Vice-president of the New Progressive Party Youth. The next year, he was elected to the Municipal Assembly of Guaynabo, with only 25 years old. In 1981, he served as Executive Aide to the Vicepresident and Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives. During that time, he collaborated with the Rules and Calendar Committee, among others. That year, he also began working as Executive Aide to then mayor of Guaynabo, Alejandro Cruz until 1986. That year, he started working as an adviser in Administrative Affairs and Public Politics of Guaynabo until 1988. O'Neill ran for the Senate of Puerto Rico at the 1988 general elections. He was elected to represent the District of Bayamón, which includes his hometown of Guaynabo. O'Neill was sworn in January, 1989. During that term, he served Minority Speaker in several committees. He was reelected at the 1992 general elections. In 1993, after the sudden death of mayor Alejandro Cruz, O'Neill decided to run for the seat. He was elected in a special election held on April 2, 1993 and was sworn in April 7, 1993. After that, he has been reelected in five consecutive terms (

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 ...

2000 File:2000 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Protests against Bush v. Gore after the 2000 United States presidential election; Heads of state meet for the Millennium Summit; The International Space Station in its infant form as seen from ...

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 ...

2008 File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...

, and

2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...

). During the

election, he received 70% of the votes, being one of the mayors with the largest margin of victory. O'Neill occupies several positions of leadership within the New Progressive Party (PNP). He is a member of the Board, as well as President of the party in Guaynabo. He was also President of the Puerto Rico Mayors Federation. O'Neill was suspended from his job as mayor of Guaynabo on May 24, 2017. He resigned June 5. He was succeeded by former Rep. Angel Pérez-Otero.

Personal life

O'Neill is married to Alba N. Alvelo. They have four children together. He has four other children from his previous marriage.

Scandal

On October 27, 2016, it was revealed that a female police officer had filed a complaint against O'Neill for sexual harassment.Ivette Sosa
"''Policía acusa a O'Neill de agresión sexual''"
Telemundo, 27 October 2016 Both Puerto Rico governor

Ricardo Rosselló Ricardo Antonio Rosselló Nevares (; born March 7, 1979) is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the governor of Puerto Rico from 2017 to 2019. He resigned on August 2, 2019, after protests related to the Telegramgate scandal. He is the s ...

and resident commissioner

Jenniffer González Jenniffer Aydin González Colón (born August 5, 1976) is a Puerto Rican politician who serves as the 20th Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico. González has served in leadership positions in the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico (PNP) and in ...

have condemned him and called for him to step down. On June 5, 2017, O'Neill resigned from the position of mayor

References

External links

Biografía de Héctor O'Neill
on CamaraPR

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oneill, Hector Mayors of places in Puerto Rico New Progressive Party (Puerto Rico) politicians People from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 1945 births Members of the Senate of Puerto Rico Living people