Since taking office in January of 2009, Governor Luis Fortuño’s top priority has been to revitalize Puerto Rico’s economy by putting the government’s fiscal house in order and pushing forward a series of major reforms and state-of-the-art infrastructure projects that support job creation and economic growth.  Among his achievements during the first two and a half years of his drive to propel Puerto Rico’s economic rebound, Fortuño saved the island’s credit rating on Wall Street.

In 2010, Puerto Rico received the highest credit rating increase of any other state or territory in the Nation.  In recognition of the effectiveness of his policies, in November of 2010, the island also received its first positive credit outlook in nearly three decades.

Under Fortuño’s leadership, Puerto Rico right-sized its government and reined in out of control deficit spending, reducing spending by almost 20 percent.  In two and half years, Fortuño reduced the budget deficit he inherited proportionally more than any other Governor in the Nation.

As a result of his fiscally responsible policies, Fortuño signed into law the biggest tax cut in Puerto Rico’s history.  Thanks to Fortuño’s tax cuts, the tax burden on individuals in Puerto Rico will be reduced by an average of 50 percent, and the tax burden on businesses by 30 percent.

Governor Fortuño’s peers recognize him as a leader among leaders.  He is Chairman of the Southern Governors Association, and will serve as President of the Council of State Governments for the 2012 term.  He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Center for Best Practices of the National Governors Association, as well as the President’s Bipartisan Council of Governors, which deals with national security issues and the use of the state National Guards.

Prior to his election as Governor, Fortuño represented the people of Puerto Rico in Congress, as their sole elected representative in the federal government.  During his four years in Congress, Fortuño championed both fiscally and socially conservative policies.  He also successfully advocated on behalf of more equitable treatment for Puerto Rico in federal programs.

From 1994 to 1997, Fortuño served as Puerto Rico's Secretary of Economic Development and Commerce. He simultaneously served as Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company and President of the Hotel Development Corporation. In those capacities, Fortuño spearheaded the adoption of the Uniform Commercial Code, revamping of Puerto Rico’s General Corporations Law and an aggressive investment package to grow the island’s tourism industry.

Governor Fortuño was born and raised in the capital city of San Juan, the oldest city under the American flag.  He earned his bachelor's degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and obtained his Juris Doctor (JD) at the University of Virginia School of Law. He and his wife, attorney Lucé Vela, are the proud parents of triplets María Luisa, Guillermo and Luis Roberto.

Click here to learn more about Governor Fortuño’s policies and agenda.