Recognizing Alejandro Garcia Padilla, Carmen Yullin Cruz Soto, and the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico on its stunning Election Day victories.

WHEREAS, Alejandro Garcia Padilla was elected Governor of Puerto Rico on November 6th , 2012; and

WHEREAS, Garcia Padilla defeated incumbent Luis Fortuno by a narrow margin, and will be inaugurated into office on January 2nd , 2013 as the 11th elected Governor of Puerto Rico; and

WHEREAS, Carmen Yulin Cruz Soto was elected Mayor of San Juan, and will be the third woman to assume this post, after Felisa Rincon De Gautier, and her mentor, Sila Calderon; and

WHEREAS, The PDP was in founded in 1938 by Luis Muniz Marin around the ideals of Puerto Rican cultural heritage, autonomy, and eventual independence; and

WHEREAS, The Popular Democratic Party (PDP) led by Garcia Padilla and Cruz Soto surged in the general election, regaining majorities in the Legislature, as well as scoring victories in many localities; and

WHEREAS, The Popular Democratic Party reversed solid majorities by the New Progressive Party in both the House and Senate, showing the groundswell of support among the electorate for the PDP's platform of greater autonomy for the Puerto Rican people; and

WHEREAS, The PDP also took Mayorships in the cities of

Aguada, Arroyo, Ciales, Corozal, Guayama, Lajas, Las Marías, Luquillo, Salinas, Toa Alta, Utuado, Vega Baja and Yabucoa; and

WHEREAS, PDP Representative Jamie Perello will serve as Speaker of the House when session commences on January 14th , 2013; and

WHEREAS, Current PDP Minority Whip, Eduardo Bhatia will assume the role of President of the Senate; and

WHEREAS, Puerto Rico set a record for Election turnout with over 1.5 million ballots being cast across the Island; and

WHEREAS, While the referendum on status indicates that a majority of Puerto Ricans support a change in status for the Island, it is incorrect for political leaders, including President Obama, to interpret this as majority support for Puerto Rican Statehood; and

WHEREAS, The referendum on status makes clear that the people of Puerto Rico remain deeply ambivalent on the question of Statehood, with no clear majority supporting any one option; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that the 4 million people of Puerto Rican descent living in the United States have input into the question of Status and actively engage their representatives in Congress to insure that their voices are heard; and

WHEREAS

,

The Puerto Rican Leadership of the Philadelphia region applaud the tremendous campaigns run by Alejandro Garcia Padilla, Carmen Yullin Cruz Soto, and PDP; and

WHEREAS, A full delegation from Philadelphia will join Governor-elect Garcia Padilla for his inauguration this January; now therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Recognizes and congratulates Alejandro Garcia Padilla and Carmen Yullin Cruz Soto on their tremendous campaigns and the inspired leadership they have brought to the PDP. We wish them the greatest success as they lead Puerto Rico Forward.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Governor Garcia Padilla and Mayor Cruz Soto as a sincere expression of the appreciation of this body.

End