Aníbal José "Jossie" Torres is a Puerto Rican politician and lawyer affiliated with the Popular Democratic Party (PPD). Torres has served in several positions of leadership within his party. He served as Secretary of the party during the 2000s, before being appointed as Puerto Rico Chief of Staff by elected Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá in 2005. After serving four years, he returned to his position as Secretary of the PPD, before deciding to run for the Senate of Puerto Rico at the 2012 general elections.

Aníbal José Torres
President of the Puerto Rico Popular Democratic Party
In office
December 2, 2018 – August 20, 2020
Preceded byBrenda López de Arrarás (Acting)
Succeeded byCarlos Delgado Altieri
Majority Leader of the Puerto Rico Senate
In office
January 14, 2013 – January 1, 2017
Preceded byLarry Seilhamer Rodríguez
Succeeded byCarmelo Ríos Santiago
Member of the Puerto Rico Senate
from the at-large district
In office
January 2, 2013 – January 2, 2021
Succeeded byKeren Riquelme
Chief of Staff of Puerto Rico
In office
January 2, 2005 – January 1, 2009
GovernorAníbal Acevedo Vilá
Preceded byCésar Miranda
Succeeded byMarcos Rodríguez Ema
Personal details
Born
Aníbal José Torres

Orocovis, Puerto Rico
Political partyPopular Democratic
Other political
affiliations
Democratic
EducationInteramerican University of Puerto Rico (BA)
Eugenio María de Hostos School of Law (JD)

Biography

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Aníbal José Torres was born in Orocovis, Puerto Rico. He ran for mayor of Orocovis at the 2000 general elections. However, he lost to the candidate of the PNP, Jesús Colón Berlingeri, by less than 340 votes.[1]

Has a Juris Doctor degree from the Eugenio María de Hostos School of Law in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, and a B.A. in political science from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.

After that, Torres served as Secretary of the Popular Democratic Party for several years. When Aníbal Acevedo Vilá was elected Governor of Puerto Rico at the 2004 general elections, he appointed Torres to serve as his chief of staff. Torres served in this position until the end of Acevedo Vila's term in January 2009.

After that, Torres returned to his position as Secretary of the party. However, he decided to run for the Senate of Puerto Rico, presenting his candidacy on October 12, 2011.[2][3] At the 2012 PPD primaries, Torres was the second candidate to the Senate with most votes.[4]

Was officially elected as Chair of the Puerto Rico Popular Democratic Party on at the 2018 Puerto Rico Popular Democratic Party convention and served until 2020.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Elecciones Generales 2000: Alcalde de Orocovis on CEEPUR
  2. ^ Del Toro Cordero, Jackeline (September 30, 2011). "Aníba José Torres quiere ser legislador". El Vocero. Archived from the original on October 1, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  3. ^ "Aníbal José Torres presenta su candidatura al Senado". El Vocero. October 12, 2011. Archived from the original on October 14, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  4. ^ Primarias PPD 2012 Archived 2014-03-21 at the Wayback Machine on CEEPUR
  5. ^ "Charlie Delgado Altieri presenta su equipo de cara a las elecciones generales". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish).
Senate of Puerto Rico
Preceded by Majority Leader of the Puerto Rico Senate
2013–2017
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Chair of the Puerto Rico Popular Democratic Party
2018–2020
Succeeded by