Thomas Rivera Schatz | |
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14th and 16th President of the Puerto Rico Senate | |
Assumed office January 9, 2017 |
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Preceded by | Eduardo Bhatia |
In office January 2, 2009 – January 1, 2013 |
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Preceded by | |
Succeeded by | Eduardo Bhatia |
Secretary General of New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico | |
In office 2002 – August 17, 2007 |
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Personal details | |
Born |
New York City, New York, USA |
June 10, 1966
Political party | PNP, Republican Party |
Alma mater | Interamerican University of Puerto Rico (B.Sc. in Political Sciences; J.D.) |
Profession | Attorney |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Thomas Rivera Schatz (born June 10, 1966) is a Puerto Rican politician, legal advisor, attorney, and former prosecutor. Rivera Schatz is the fourteenth and sixteenth President of the Senate of Puerto Rico. He is affiliated with New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico and the United States Republican Party.
Rivera Schatz was born on June 10, 1966 in the Bronx Borough of New York City. He is the son of José A. “Nía” Rivera, a past mayor of Trujillo Alto, and Christina Schatz. While in college, he worked full-time at the City of San Juan Public Works Department. He attended the Interamerican University Law School, where he graduated in 1992. A year later, he passed the bar exam required to practice law in Puerto Rico.
Rivera Schatz started his legal career as a legal advisor in the Senate and House of Representatives of Puerto Rico. In 1996, Governor Pedro Rosselló appointed him as a prosecutor at the Department of Justice. After finishing his service as a prosecutor, he returned to private practice,handling both criminal and civil cases.
In 2000, Rivera Schatz was named Electoral Commissioner for the pro-statehood New Progressive Party (PNP). During this time, Rivera Schatz supported President of the PNP, Carlos Pesquera. On June 20, 2002, Schatz was detained, along with Pesquera, after an incident in the office of Women Affairs. Pesquera attempted to enter the offices by force to make a statement by putting the flag of the United States in the government office, after it was removed. As a result, a riot ensued.