David Bernier | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President of the Puerto Rico Popular Democratic Party | |
| In office December 30, 2015 – February 26, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Alejandro García Padilla |
| Succeeded by | Héctor Ferrer |
| 23rd Secretary of State of Puerto Rico | |
| In office January 2, 2013 – October 30, 2015 | |
| Governor | Alejandro García Padilla |
| Preceded by | Kenneth McClintock |
| Succeeded by | Javier González (acting) |
| President of the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee | |
| In office 2008–2012 | |
| Preceded by | Héctor Cardona |
| Succeeded by | Sara Rosario |
| Puerto Rico Secretary of Sports and Recreation | |
| In office January 2, 2005 – September 2008 | |
| Governor | Aníbal Acevedo Vilá |
| Preceded by | Jorge Fuentes |
| Succeeded by | Henry Neumann |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David Enrique Bernier Rivera January 21, 1977 Patillas, Puerto Rico |
| Political party | Popular Democratic |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fencing | ||
Representing  Puerto Rico
| ||
| Central American and Caribbean Games | ||
 |
1998 Maracaibo | Fencing |
David Enrique "Quique"[a] Bernier Rivera (Spanish pronunciation: [daˈβið enˈrike βeɾˈnjeɾ riˈβeɾa]; born January 21, 1977) is a Puerto Rican dentist and politician that has served in various roles in public service in Puerto Rico. Bernier first served as executive director of the Office of Youth Affairs of Puerto Rico and was later confirmed as the youngest Secretary of Sports and Recreation of Puerto Rico in history. Four years later, he was unanimously confirmed as Secretary of State of Puerto Rico for the administration of Alejandro García Padilla. He was the 2016 candidate for Governor of Puerto Rico of the Popular Democratic Party.
Ideologically, Bernier is affiliated with two parties: one within Puerto Rico and another within the United States as a whole. Within Puerto Rico, he used to preside the Popular Democratic Party (PPD in Spanish) and identifies as a sovereigntist—a member of a faction within the PPD that advocates for Puerto Rico to enter a compact of free association with the United States rather than continuing the status quo. At the national level, however, Bernier is a member of the Democratic Party of the United States and was a staunch supporter of President Barack Obama while he was President.
Outside politics, Bernier was an accomplished athlete. He was a member of the Puerto Rican national fencing team, in which he represented the island in the Pan American Games and in the Central American and Caribbean Games. As a Pan American athlete, he was a Pan American Youth Champion for three consecutive years. He also won a bronze medal in the 1998 Central American and Caribbean Games celebrated in Maracaibo, Venezuela.
His accomplishments as an athlete eventually led him to public service. As an accomplished youngster, governor Sila María Calderón decided to appoint Bernier to lead the Puerto Rico Office of Youth Affairs in 2003. Two years later, governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá appointed him as Secretary of Sports of Puerto Rico. But as a different political party took over the government, Bernier opted to leave his incumbency after four years of service. A few months later he was elected president of the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee. In that capacity Bernier led the efforts to organize the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games celebrated in Mayaguez. A few years later and as he was preparing for his re-election for president of the committee, governor Alejandro García Padilla appointed him as Secretary of State of Puerto Rico. In that role, Bernier transformed the Department of State of Puerto Rico by creating the Morales Carrión Diplomatic and Foreign Relations School, by opening several Puerto Rican trade promotion offices in foreign countries, and by reducing the backlog of business charters filings and intellectual property filings. Bernier, however, left his incumbency once again but this time to run for governor of Puerto Rico in the 2016 general election for the Popular Democratic Party.
Bernier campaigned to become the 12th Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. He began his tour in February 2016 under the name "Tour Colorao" (English: Red-colored Tour) in reference to his redheadedness.[2] On November 8, 2016, Bernier lost the 2016 Governor's race, losing to main rival Ricky Rosselló of the New Progressive Party (PNP)[3]
- ^ Caquías Cruz, Sandra (December 16, 2015). "Júbilo y expectativa ante el anuncio de David Bernier". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). Retrieved December 16, 2015.
- ^ "Bernier inicia el Tour Colorao en Las Marías". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). February 28, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
- ^ "Puerto Rico: Pro-Statehood Candidate Ricardo Rosselló Wins Governor Race". NBC News. November 8, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
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