Sila María Calderón

Sila María Calderón Serra (born September 23, 1942) was the seventh Democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico from 2001 to 2005. She is the only woman ever elected to that office. Prior to being Governor, Calderón held various positions in the Government of Puerto Rico, including Secretary of State and Chief of Staff. She was also Mayor of San Juan, the Capital of Puerto Rico.

Political career

Her political career began in 1973 when she was named executive assistant to the Labor Secretary and Special Assistant to then Governor, Rafael Hernández Colón. Calderon became the first woman Chief of Staff in Puerto Rico in 1985. Later, she served as Secretary of State and Lieutenant Governor.

Related Topics:
1973 - Rafael Hernández Colón - Chief of Staff - Puerto Rico - Secretary of State - Lieutenant Governor

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She took a hiatus from politics in 1992 and served on the board of directors of several corporations such as Banco Popular and non-profit organizations such as The Sister Isolina Ferré Foundation.

Related Topics:
1992 - Banco Popular - Isolina Ferré

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Mayor of San Juan

She returned to politics and was elected mayor of the city of San Juan in 1996. As mayor, she sponsored various urban projects to revitalize Rio Piedras, Santurce, Condado and other deteriorated sections of the city. She initiated a "Special Communities Program" to assist poor communities and foster community volunteering.

Related Topics:
Mayor - San Juan - 1996 - Rio Piedras - Santurce - Condado

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In 2000 she set her sights for the governor's seat. She led the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) during a heated and close campaign for Governor against Carlos Pesquera (PNP) and Ruben Berrios (PIP). With her victory, she became the first elected female governor in the history of Puerto Rico.

Related Topics:
2000 - Popular Democratic Party - Carlos Pesquera - PNP - Ruben Berrios - PIP

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Governor

Calderón's administration objectives dealt with issues such as Vieques (see Navy-Vieques protests), the fight against drugs and the extension to the rest of the island of the "Special Communities Programs". During her campaign for the governorship, she promised to "get the Navy out of Vieques in 6 months", but the Navy left as agreed in the historic Clinton-Rosselló agreement, on May 1, 2003. Her handling of the Vieques issue, as well as her anti-statehooders stances fueled the polarization of the inhabitants of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that still prevails.

Related Topics:
Vieques - Navy-Vieques protests - Fight against drugs

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Although a firm believer in the current Commonwealth relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States, an unsuccessful attempt was made in 2002 to discuss mechanisms to resolve the political status dispute that faces Puerto Rico among the three major political parties.

Related Topics:
2002 - Puerto Rico

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Her administration was characterized by frequent changes of the members of her cabinet; including four different Police Superintendents. During her term, crime became a major issue.

Related Topics:
Police - Crime

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Calderón announced in the summer of 2003 that she would not seek re-election in the 2004 Puerto Rican elections. That same year she married Ramón Cantero Frau, a former member of her cabinet. It was only the second time a wedding ceremony had been carried at La Fortaleza, official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico, since Roberto Sánchez Vilella did so in 1966. The ceremony became a media event that was transmitted live on Puerto Rican television.

Related Topics:
2003 - 2004 - La Fortaleza - Roberto Sánchez Vilella

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On May 26, 2004, Calderón had to deal with a man who entered La Fortaleza, governor's mansion, with a knife and took a receptionist hostage, demanding to speak directly with Calderón. After Calderón negotiated with the hostage taker, the man dropped the knife and surrendered to police.

Related Topics:
May 26 - 2004 - La Fortaleza - Hostage - Police

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Her daughter,Sila Mari Gonzalez who together with her sister María Elena González served as "First Ladies" while her mother was Governor of Puerto Rico, was elected to the Senate of Puerto Rico on November 2004.

Related Topics:
Sila Mari Gonzalez - Senate of Puerto Rico - 2004

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