Angel Martinez

Background

Angel Martínez Santiago was born on February 17, 1964 in Ciales, Puerto Rico.

Education

He graduated from Puerto Rico Junior College in 1986 certified as a radiologic technologist. In 2005, he finished his Master"s degree in Human Resources from Caribbean University, graduating Summa Cum Laude.

Career

Martínez approved 60 credits en route to a Pre-medical degree in 1982. In 2002, he obtained a Bachelor"s degree in business administration from the American University of Puerto Rico, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Martínez Santiago worked as a radiologic technologist full-time in Doctor"s Center from 1990 to 1996, and part-time in Manatí Medical Center from 1987 to 2001.

In 1997 he started working for the State Insurance Fund Corporation where he supervised the Department of Radiology.

He worked there until December 2008, after being elected as Senator. In 2007, he presented his candidacy to the Senate of Puerto Rico for the District of Arecibo winning the 2008 PNP primary.

After being sworn in on January 2, 2009, he was named President of the Commission of Health, and Vice-president of the Commissions of Economic Development and Planning, Sports and Recreation, and Natural Resources. In June 2009, outgoing Secretary of Health Jaime Rivera Dueño, claimed that Senator Martínez pressured him into naming people close to him to positions in the Department of Health in exchange for his confirmation.

According to Rivera Dueño, Martínez" sister was among the ones the Senator asked him to hire.

Santiago ran again for Senator in the 2012 general elections.

Achievements

• In the 2008 general elections, he won receiving the most votes in the District.

Politics

Martínez began his political career in his teens, becoming President of the PNP Youth in Ciales by 1986. He was one of the few senators from the New Progressive Party (PNP) to retain his seat, defeating the candidates of the other parties by a small margin.

Membership

He has been a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico since 2008. He is also member of the Commissions of Treasury and Cooperativism.