Waldemar Quiles Rodríguez (born December 29, 1940) is a Puerto Rican politician affiliated with the New Progressive Party (PNP). He has been a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives for two separate instances (1993-2005, 2009–2017) representing

District 22 District 22 may refer to: * District 22 (Chile) * District 22 (Tehran) * Texas Senate, District 22 * Florida's 22nd congressional district * Texas's 22nd congressional district * New York's 22nd congressional district * California's 22nd congressio ...

. Quiles also served as Mayor of

Utuado Utuado () is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central mountainous region of the island known as the '' Cordillera Central''. It is located north of Adjuntas and Ponce; south of Hatillo and Arecibo; east of Lares; and west ...

from 1981 to 1989.

Early years and studies

Waldemar Quiles was born December 29, 1940, in Camuy, Puerto Rico. Quiles completed a Bachelor's degree in Arts from the University of Puerto Rico in 1965. In 1971, he completed his Master's degree in Education, also from the University of Puerto Rico, graduating

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 ...

. In 1978, Quiles studied law at IAU.

Professional career

Quiles is certified as an elementary and junior high school teacher, and also as director and superintendent of schools.

Political career

Quiles began his political career in 1973, when he became part of the Municipal Assembly of

. In 1977, he became President of the Assembly. Also, from 1977 to 1980, Quiles was the Auxiliary Administrator at the Administration of Permits and Regulations (ARPE). From 1981 to 1989, Quiles served as Mayor of

. Quiles was first elected to the

House of Representatives of Puerto Rico The House of Representatives of Puerto Rico ( es, Cámara de Representantes de Puerto Rico) is the lower house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, the bicameral state legislature (United States), territorial legislature of Puerto Rico. ...

at the 1992 general election, representing

. During his first term, he presided the Commission of Cooperativism, and served as vice president of the Commission of Education and Culture. Quiles was reelected at the

1996 general election The following elections occurred in the year 1996. * 1995–1996 Azerbaijani parliamentary election * 1996 Beninese presidential election * 1996 Comorian presidential election * 1996 New Zealand general election * 1996 Nicaraguan general election ...

, after which he presided the Treasury Commission. From 2001 to 2003, Quiles was President of the Commission of Public Service. Quiles decided not to run for reelection at the 2004 general election. During that term, he served as Advisor to the Mayor of Toa Baja, Aníbal Vega Borges, and to the Speaker of the House, José Aponte Hernández. Quiles returned to active politics for the 2008 general election, where he was reelected again to represent District 22. He was again reelected in 2012.

Personal life

Quiles was married to María del Carmen Llanes Medina. They divorced in 2002. Quiles has six children.

References

External links

Waldemar Quiles Official biographyWaldemar Quiles Profile
on '' El Nuevo Día'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Quiles, Waldemar Living people 1940 births New Progressive Party members of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico Mayors of places in Puerto Rico People from Camuy, Puerto Rico University of Puerto Rico alumni