Leonides "Leo" Díaz Urbina[a] (born October 6, 1962) is a Puerto Rican lawyer and politician who served as a legislator in the 24th and 25th House of Representatives of Puerto Rico, and as president of the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico (PNP) in 2001. Diaz, was candidate for mayor of San Juan in 2016.[1][2][3][4]
Leo Díaz Urbina | |
|---|---|
| Chair of the Puerto Rico New Progressive Party | |
| In office 2001–2001 | |
| Preceded by | Norma Burgos |
| Succeeded by | Carlos Pesquera |
| At-Large Member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives | |
| In office January 13, 1997 – January 14, 2001 | |
| Member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives from the 3rd District | |
| In office January 11, 1993 – January 13, 1997 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Leonides Díaz Urbina October 6, 1962 Río Piedras, Puerto Rico |
| Political party | |
| Spouse | Zulma Ivelisse Fuster Troche |
| Children |
|
| Alma mater | University of Puerto Rico (BSS) University of Puerto Rico School of Law (JD) |
| Occupation | |
| Nickname | Leo |
Biography
editDíaz Urbina was born in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, where his father, Leonides Díaz, was the owner of a grocer's shop and his mother, Gilberta Urbina Guzmán, a housewife. He has a bachelor's degree in social sciences with a minor in political science from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus and a juris doctor from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law.
In 1987, he was elected president of the National Association of Law Students, Rio Piedras Chapter. He was also elected as president of the student council for the University of Puerto Rico School of Law.
In 1990, he was elected as municipal legislator for the municipal legislative assembly of San Juan, as president of the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico for the representative district III of San Juan, and as president of the Republican Party for the same district.
In 1992, he was elected as a Representative for the same district in the 1992 general election. He was sworn on January 11, 1993, effectively becoming an official member of the 24th House of Representatives of Puerto Rico. As a member of the 24th House, Díaz Urbina presided the Commission of the Civil and Judiciary (now simply called the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico Commission of the Judiciary|Commission of the Judiciary) and the Commission for the Development of San Juan (now called the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico Commission on Integrated Development of the Capital City|Commission on Integrated Development of the Capital City).
In 1996, he was elected as a representative at-large in the 1996 general election. He was sworn on January 13, 1997, effectively becoming an official member of the 25th House of Representatives of Puerto Rico.
In 1999, he decided to no longer run for the House of Representatives but publicly supported and campaigned for Carlos Pesquera, then gubernatorial candidate for the New Progressive Party. In 2001, after Pesquera lost, he was elected President of the New Progressive Party, although he was later succeeded by Pesquera, who was one of the NPP candidates in the 2004 elections.
Diaz, was candidate for mayor of San Juan in 2016.
Personal life
editDíaz Urbina married Zulma Ivelisse Fuster Troche, a prosecutor for the district of San Juan, in 1997. They have three children, Leonides Sebastián (born in 2000) and Patricia Victoria (born in 2001), and Isabella Cristina (born in 2006).
Notes
edit- ^ In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Díaz and the second or maternal family name is Urbina.
References
edit- ^ Anduze Montaño, Harry (February 28, 1995). "RE: P. de la C. 1422" (PDF) (typescript) (in Spanish). Letter to Leo Díaz Urbina. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
- ^ Anduze Montaño, Harry (August 22, 1995). "RE: PC 1971" (PDF) (typescript) (in Spanish). Letter to Leo Díaz Urbina. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
- ^ "Leo Díaz Urbina es el nuevo presidente del PNP". Puerto Rico Herald (in Spanish). Associated Press. February 11, 2001. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
- ^ "Santini nombra a Leo Díaz para dirigir su programa electoral". Noticel (in Spanish). CyberNews. April 3, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2013.