1. David Bernier was the 2016 candidate for Governor of Puerto Rico of the Popular Democratic Party.
31 Facts About David Bernier
1. 2.
Ideologically, David Bernier is affiliated with two parties: one within Puerto Rico and another within the United States as a whole.
3.
At the national level David Bernier is a member of the Democratic Party of the United States and was a staunch supporter of President Barack Obama while he was President.
4.
David Bernier was a member of the Puerto Rican national fencing team, in which he represented the island in the Pan American Games and in the Central American and Caribbean Games.
5.
David Bernier won a bronze medal in the 1998 Central American and Caribbean Games celebrated in Maracaibo, Venezuela.
6.
In that capacity David Bernier led the efforts to organize the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games celebrated in Mayaguez.
7.
In that role, David Bernier transformed the Department of State of Puerto Rico by creating the Morales Carrion Diplomatic and Foreign Relations School, by opening several Puerto Rican trade promotion offices in foreign countries, and by reducing the backlog of business charters filings and intellectual property filings.
8.
David Bernier left his incumbency but this time to run for governor of Puerto Rico in the 2016 general election for the Popular Democratic Party.
9.
David Bernier campaigned to become the 12th Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
10.
David Bernier began his tour in February 2016 under the name "Tour Colorao" in reference to his redheadedness.
11.
On November 8,2016, David Bernier lost the 2016 Governor's race, losing to main rival Ricky Rossello of the New Progressive Party.
12.
David Bernier then became a member of the National Fencing Selection of Puerto Rico, during his school years, and represented Puerto Rico in events worldwide.
13.
David Bernier was president of the first graduating class of the Albergue Olimpico school.
14.
David Bernier then completed a doctorate in odontology at the University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine.
15.
David Bernier was president of the student council and was named president of the Association of Athletes of High Endurance.
16.
David Bernier won the bronze medal in the 1998 Central American and Caribbean Games, celebrated in Maracaibo, Venezuela.
17.
On 2004, David Bernier was inducted into the Puerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame.
18.
In September 2008, David Bernier resigned to his position as Secretary of Sports and Recreation to run for President of the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee.
19.
David Bernier won the seat receiving 26 votes from the Federation delegates versus 13 votes in favor of incumbent Hector Cardona.
20.
David Bernier was unanimously confirmed in that post by the Senate of Puerto Rico, presided over by Kenneth McClintock, who later preceded him as secretary of state.
21.
On January 31,2008, David Bernier became president of the committee organizing the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games.
22.
On November 15,2012, Governor-elect Alejandro Garcia Padilla appointed David Bernier to succeed Kenneth McClintock as Puerto Rico's 23rd Secretary of State, which entails the role of lieutenant governor.
23.
At the moment, David Bernier was preparing to be reelected as president of the Olympic Committee when he was approached by Garcia Padilla for the position.
24.
David Bernier was sworn into his recess appointment by Puerto Rico Supreme Court Chief Justice Federico Hernandez Denton and he has since been unanimously confirmed by the Senate of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico House of Representatives.
25.
At least once during his term, the acting governorship has been delegated to Attorney General Luis Sanchez Betances when both the Governor and David Bernier have been absent, and when General Sanchez Betances has been away, Secretary of the Treasury Melba Acosta has served as acting governor.
26.
David Bernier submitted his resignation as secretary of state on October 25,2015, effective October 30,2015.
27.
David Bernier is a member of the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Lieutenant Governors Association, two organizations that held conventions in Puerto Rico during his predecessor Kenneth McClintock's incumbency.
28.
On December 16,2015, David Bernier announced he would run for governor under the PPD during the 2016 general elections.
29.
David Bernier's announcement came two days after incumbent governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla announced he would not seek re-election.
30.
On November 8,2016, David Bernier lost the 2016 Governor's race, losing to main rival Ricky Rossello of the New Progressive Party.
31.
David Bernier has stated that reading the work of Gabriel Garcia Marquez influenced his personal ideology by helping him understand the "Puerto Rican reality with the Latin American context".