Miguel Romero
Miguel Alberto Romero Lugo (born February 17, 1970) is a Puerto Rican lawyer and politician, and the former Secretary of Labor and Human Resources of Puerto Rico and Chief of Staff of Puerto Rico.
Miguel Romero | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Puerto Rico Senate from the San Juan district | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2017 | |
| Puerto Rico Chief of Staff | |
| In office August 1, 2012 – January 1, 2013 | |
| Succeeded by | Ingrid Vila Biaggi |
| Secretary of Labor and Human Resources of Puerto Rico | |
| In office January 12, 2009 – January 13, 2013 | |
| President Appeals Commission for the Public Service Human Resource Management System | |
| In office 2001–2004 | |
| Associate Member Appeals Commission for the Public Service Human Resource Management System | |
| In office 1999–2001 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Miguel Alberto Romero February 17, 1970 San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Political party | New Progressive |
| Other political affiliations | Democrat |
| Education | University of Puerto Rico (BA) Inter American University of Puerto Rico (JD) |
| Occupation | Trial lawyer |
Early life and education
Romero was born on February 17, 1970, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This young professional gained his elementary education in Puerto Rico's public school system. At the age of 17, he was accepted by the University of Puerto Rico to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science. While going to college, he also attended hospitality school where he learned the skills he would later use in his union job as a casino croupier, a position that provided his first exposure to collective bargaining agreements.
He graduated from Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Law summa cum laude and first in his class. After graduation, he obtained the highest grade in his Bar Exam, being one of a handful of hopefuls in Puerto Rico to ever achieve a perfect score in that test. Romero is admitted to practice law in the state of Florida, the Federal Court in Puerto Rico, the Central Florida Federal Court and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Early career
He joined the Government of Puerto Rico in 1993, working for the Youth Affairs Office. Then he moved up to La Fortaleza – the Governor's Mansion – where he worked in the Municipal Affairs Office during the day, while seeking a law degree from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Law in the evenings.
In 1998, then-Governor Pedro Rosselló nominated Romero as associate member of the Appellate Board of the government's personnel administration system. Two years later, he was designated president of that entity, serving in that capacity until 2004, being the youngest member of the cabinet at the time of his nomination. Romero then practiced as a private trial lawyer, specializing in labor relations.
Secretary of Labor and Human Resources
In November 2008, former Governor of Puerto Rico, Hon. Luis Fortuño, nominated him as Secretary of Labor and Human Resources. He was sworn into his post in January 2009, and assumed several responsibilities that denote his leadership, character and commitment as a public servant. Romero successfully mediated disputes and spearheaded many negotiations with Labor Unions improving the conditions of Puerto Rico's workforce.
While being in office Romero was active in several Government of Puerto Rico boards, including the State Insurance Fund Corporation, the Public Housing Administration, the Cooperative Development Commission, the Work Investment Act State Board, and the Fiscal and Economic Stabilization board. Additionally, he was one of only five government officials that make up the council in charge of reorganizing and modernizing the Executive Branch of Puerto Rico. Because of his leadership the Governor of Puerto Rico also entrusted Romero with the task of solving all current tribulations affecting the government's retirement system by naming him chair of the Commission to Reform the Government of Puerto Rico Retirement Systems.
On August 2012, Romero was appointed Chief of Staff by Governor Fortuño.
Chief of Staff of Puerto Rico
On August 1, 2012, Romero became the Governor's third Chief of Staff, succeeding Marcos Rodríguez Ema, who became one of Senior Advisor to the Luis Fortuño reelection campaign. The differences in style with his predecessor became readily apparent when he announced that he will concentrate on government issues and avoid becoming immersed in political debate.
National politics
Romero, a Democrat, served as a delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, representing the San Juan Senatorial District. On 2016, he also served as a delegate for the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, representing the San Juan Senatorial District.
San Juan Senatorial District
On June 5th 2016, Romero won the primary for one of the senate positions of the San Juan District. He was elected with 33,828 votes, obtaining the first place over six other candidates and got more votes in every San Juan's precinct, than any other candidate running for a San Juan's legislative position. Romero also surpass in votes the candidates who ran in the primary for Governor of Puerto Rico and mayor of San Juan.