Jorge Suárez Cáceres (born August 24, 1976, in

Fajardo Fajardo () is a Fajardo barrio-pueblo, town and a Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality part of the San Juan–Caguas–Guaynabo metropolitan area, San Juan-Caguas-Fajardo Combined Statistical Area in Puerto Rico. Fajardo is the hub of mu ...

Puerto Rico ; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...

) is a Puerto Rican politician and

senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

. He has been a member of the

Senate of Puerto Rico The Senate of 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 the legislative branch of ...

since 2006.

Early years and studies

Jorge Suárez Cáceres was born on August 24, 1976, in

, to Ismael Suárez and Aurea Cáceres. He is the oldest of three siblings. Suárez studied in the Eugenio Brac Elementary School of Naguabo, and finished his studies in his hometown of Humacao, at the San Benito and San Antonio Abad schools, graduating in 1994. Suárez obtained his

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

in political science 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 ...

Recinto Metropolitano, graduating

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 Sout ...

. During his youth, Suárez worked for a long time administering a

gas station A filling station (also known as a gas station [] or petrol station []) is a facility that sells fuel and engine lubricants for motor vehicles. The most common fuels sold are gasoline (or petrol) and diesel fuel. Fuel dispensers are used to ...

that belonged to his grandfather. He was also involved in Little Leagues in sports like basketball and baseball.

Political career

Suárez began his political career working as an aide to Representative Ferdinand Pérez, and advisor to Senator José Luis Dalmau and to Resident Commissioner

Aníbal Acevedo Vilá Aníbal Salvador Acevedo Vilá (born 13 February 1962) is a Puerto Rican politician and lawyer who served as the governor of Puerto Rico from 2005 to 2009. He is a Harvard University alumnus ( LL.M. 1987) and a graduate of the University of ...

. He was also Director of the Transportation Area of the Governor's Office In September 2005, he started working as Regional Director of the Housing Department in Humacao.

District Senator: 2006–2008

Suárez Cáceres decided to run for the position of District Senator, to fill the vacancy left by Sixto Hernández. On July 16, 2006, he was elected by his party and was sworn in on August 31, 2006. Another candidate, Sara Irizarry, presented a motion after July 16, to nullify the voting claiming there were irregularities in the process, but the motion was dismissed.Juramenta Suárez en el Senado
on '' Primera Hora''; Albert, Ramaris (August 31, 2006) With 30 years at the moment, Suárez became the youngest Senator of that term, and the second youngest to be sworn in the Senate in Puerto Rico. He has served as Speaker of his party in the Commissions of Commerce, Tourism, Urban Development, and Infrastructure; in the Joint Commission of Legislative Donations; and was also a member of several other commissions.

Senator At-large: 2009–2013

Suárez was sworn in for a second term on June 29, 2009, this time according to the Minority Law of Puerto Rico, to complete the delegation of nine senators for his party.

Honors and recognitions

Suárez has received several honors during his career. The Puerto Rico Chapter of the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...

recognized his contributions to the discussion of international matters. Also, the Comptroller's Office in Puerto Rico gave him a recognition for having a "100% healthy administration" in his office. During August 2008, he was honored by the Puerto Rican community in the State of

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

as the youngest senator of Puerto Rico, declaring him Grand Marshal of the Puerto Rican parade during the Puerto Rican week on that state. He received a recognition from Thomas DeGise, County Executive of

Hudson County, New Jersey Hudson County is a county in the U.S. state of New Jersey, its smallest and most densely populated. Lying in the northeast of the state and on the west bank of the Hudson River, the North Jersey county is part of the state's Gateway Region an ...

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Suarez Caceres, Jorge 1976 births Living people Interamerican University of Puerto Rico alumni Members of the Senate of Puerto Rico People from Fajardo, Puerto Rico Popular Democratic Party members of the Senate of Puerto Rico 21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico