Del. Anibal Acevedo-Vila (D) Elected 2000, 2d term
Born:	Feb. 13, 1962, Hato Rey
Home:	Guaynabo
Education:	U. of PR, B.A. 1982, J.D. 1985; Harvard U., J.D. 1987
Religion:	Catholic
Marital Status:	married (Luisa Gandara)
Elected  Office:	PR House of Reps., 1991-00.
Professional Career:	Clerk, PR Supreme Court, 1985-86; clerk, 1st Circuit Court of Appeals, Boston, 1987-88; Aide, Gov. Rafael Hernandez Colon, 1989-92; Pres., Popular Democratic Party, 1997-00.
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Anibal Acevedo-Vila, former president of the PPD, was elected to a four-year term as Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner--actually, non-voting delegate in Congress--in 2000. Acevedo-Vila was born in San Juan and lives in Guaynabo. He graduated from the University of Puerto Rico and Harvard Law School and was a law clerk in the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, which has jurisdiction over Puerto Rico. He returned to Puerto Rico to work on the staff of Governor Rafael Hernandez Colon from 1989 to 1992. In 1992 he was elected to the Puerto Rico House. Like all Puerto Rican politicians, he opposed the continuation of the Navy bombing range in Vieques and said he was "not satisfied" by the January 2000 agreement between Governor Pedro Rossello and Bill Clinton. He said Vieques would be his first priority, and said that he would try to create tax breaks for American companies in Puerto Rico--although the main tax break, Section 936, is being phased out.

His opponent in the 2000 election was incumbent Carlos Romero Barcelo, who was elected mayor of San Juan in 1968 and 1972, governor in 1976 and 1980 and resident commissioner in 1992 and 1996. Romero was known for his pugnacious temperament and strong advocacy of statehood, and unlike many other New Progressives always identified with the mainland Democratic Party. But Puerto Ricans tend to vote on straight party lines, and as the Popular Democrats' Sila Maria Calderon was winning the governorship 49%-46%, Acevedo-Vila was elected by a 50%-45% margin, with 5% for the Independence Party candidate. He identifies with the Democratic party.

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DC Office
126 CHOB 20515, 202-225-2615; Fax: 202-225-2154; Web site: www.house.gov/acevedo-vila

State Offices
Mayaguez, 787-831-3400; Ponce, 787-841-3209; San Juan, 787-723-6333.

Committees

• Agriculture (11th of 24 D): Conservation, Credit, Rural Development & Research; Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition & Forestry.
• Resources (14th of 24 D): Forests & Forest Health; National Parks, Recreation & Public Lands.
• Small Business (10th of 17 D): Regulatory Reform & Oversight; Tax, Finance & Exports.