Background
José Enrique Meléndez Ortíz was born on December 5, 1973 in Aibonito, Puerto Rico.
José Enrique Meléndez Ortíz was born on December 5, 1973 in Aibonito, Puerto Rico.
Meléndez completed his elementary and high school studies in Coamo. After that, he completed his Juris doctor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico in 2002.
He then received a Bachelor"s degree in Political Science from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. After that, he passed the bar examination In 2002, Meléndez was hired by then-Representative Aníbal Vega Borges to serve as Legislative Adviser to the New Progressive Party at the Puerto Rico House of Representatives.
During that time, he also served as adviser to Representatives José Chico Vega and Edwin Mundo Ríos.
Also, Thomas Rivera Schatz, then Electoral Commissioner of the PNP, recruited Meléndez as an adviser in electoral affairs Meléndez continued working for Rivera Schatz becoming his Legal Aide.
From 2003 to 2004, Meléndez also gave legislative and legal advice to Representative José F. Aponte Hernández. In January 10, 2005, Meléndez was appointed unanimously to serve as Secretary of the House of Representatives, under elected Speaker Aponte Hernández.
He served in that position until 2006.
Meléndez also works as a private attorney. In April 2011, Meléndez Ortíz presented his candidacy to fill the vacant of Rolando Crespo in the House of Representatives. In May 23, 2011, he was sworn into the position.
He has been a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives since May 23, 2011. He is currently a member of the Committees of Municipal Affairs, Treasury, Health, Public Safety, and others