Born in Comerío, Puerto Rico, he is a product of the public school system, including the Centro Residencial de Oportunidades Educativas de Mayagüez (CROEM). He began his professional career in public service in 1979, serving as a municipal official in his hometown of Comerío until 1992. In 1993, he became a Special Aide to the Mayor of Carolina, holding that position until 2000. In 2001, he was elected Mayor of Comerío, a position he held for six consecutive terms until 2024. During his tenure, he served as President of the Mayors Association of Puerto Rico from 2009 to 2014 and as President of the Latin American Federation of Cities, Municipalities and Local Associations (FLACMA) from 2017 to 2018. In 2019, he was named Latin American Mayor of the Year by FLACMA. Under his leadership, the Municipality of Comerío was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its recycling program and received commendations from the Office of the Comptroller for audits without exceptions. The organization ABRE Puerto Rico recognized the municipality for its strong fiscal health. He currently serves as a Senator At-Large and chairs the Senate Committee on Municipal Affairs.
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