FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2008
Contact: Alci Maldonado
Phone: 571-276-3109

RNHA Congratulates Luis Fortuño on Winning His Party’s Primary and Becoming the Nominee for Governor of Puerto Rico

The Republican National Hispanic Assembly (RNHA) congratulates Luis Fortuño, Puerto Rico ’s current delegate to the U.S. Congress, on becoming the nominee of the PNP Party for the upcoming governor’s race in November. Fortuño, who is also a Republican, won nearly 60 percent of the vote in the Sunday primary, defeating former Governor Pedro Roselló. He will face incumbent Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá of the PPD Party. Broadly, the PNP is pro-statehood, while the PPD is in favor of the current loose commonwealth affiliation with the U.S. Fortuño now becomes the new head of the PNP Party.

Puerto Rico ’s delegate to Congress since, 2005, he is also the Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Conference (a group of Republican members of congress of Hispanic origin). He was also a member of the RNHA’s inaugural National Advisory Board. Fortuño has been and continues to be a tireless supporter of countless Republican candidates nationwide, having stumped for congressional, senatorial and presidential candidates, talking about the Republican Party’s optimistic vision for the future.

RNHA national chairman Danny Vargas said “We are thrilled to congratulate Luis on his decisive victory. He has been a great friend, an outstanding public servant and a phenomenal leader in advancing the principles of Republicanism, increased opportunity, lower taxes and greater security”. Mr. Vargas added, "We have no doubt that the people of Puerto Rico will recognize that he represents the best hopes for a prosperous future for the nearly four million American citizens living on that magnificent island”.

``This movement is not going to finish until we have carried out real change in the lives of each one of you,'' Fortuño, told cheering supporters in San Juan 's financial district. The Governor serves a four year term which begins on the second day of January after the year of his election and ends on the date his successor takes office. There is no limit on the number of terms a Governor can serve.

The mission of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly is to build a membership organization to foster the principles of the Republican Party in the Hispanic community, provide Hispanic Americans with a forum to play an influential role in local, state, and national Party activities, increase the number of Hispanic Republican elected officials, and create and maintain a network of Hispanic Republican leaders.