Ramón Luis Rivera Cruz
Biography 2025 (English version)
Born on February 3, 1956, Ramón Luis Rivera Cruz is the eldest of five siblings. His parents, Ramón Luis Rivera Rivera and Angélica Cruz Báez, with wisdom and grace they instilled in him deep moral and spiritual values.
His formal education began at Colegio Santo Domingo and continued at Papa Juan XXIII High School. Afterwards, he began his college years at the Univerisity of Puerto Rico, Bayamón Campus, were he studied business administration. Later, he graduated with high honors from American University. In addition, to his academic studies he also holds a license to practice as a real estate agent.
He married Narel Waleska Colón in the year 1993 and they had two children, Ramón Luis III and André Efraín.
From a young age he began to participate in political activities and in the year 1993 he assumed the position as senator for the Bayamón district, for a period of two terms.
In his tenure, he led key committees in the upper house, such as urban affairs and infrastructure, ethic and youth, as well as sports and recreation. In addition, he served as vice-president of the finance committee and was an active member of the three senate committees, related to government, federal affairs, health, social welfare and public safety.
In the election year 2000 he ran for the position of mayor for the City of Bayamón. Since then, he has gained the favor of the people, winning the last two elections by more than 75% of the votes and serving with determination and perseverance.
As mayor, he has excelled his administrative skills being recognized by state and federal agencies, maintaining balanced budgets, surpluses and administrative effectiveness. He has promoted numerous initiatives, projects and social programs for homeless people (Nuevo Amanecer), pregnant youth program (Proyecto Nacer), and other services to assist the elderly and HIV patients.
Mayor Rivera Cruz has also promoted the arts by establishing educational initiatives that include the school of fine arts, The Bayamón Arts Museum, The Emergine Space and the restructure of the Francisco Oller Art Museum.
In addition, Rivera Cruz has developed programs that include the resident artists cottages project on Barbosa Street, the comprehensive rehabilitation plan for the urban center and the reforestation and environmental mitigation plan. Such is the case of the Bayamón River Linear walkway, which was awarded in the year 2005 by “The International Awards for Livable Communities” in Spain. We also have other programs such as the Electronic Surveillance Center, the Engine-4 Technology Center, Ciudad Ensueño, Ciudad Dorada, Sports Complexes and Solar Energy projects among others.
In the administrative area under his jurisdiction, the municipality began a plan to liquidate the municipal public debt; an initiative that has already managed to substantially reduce the debt. Its total liquidation is expected by the year 2027.
In the year 2020-2021, the mayor was appointed by governor Hon. Pedro R. Pierluisi Urrutia as chairman of his transition committee and in the year 2024-2025, governor Hon.Jenniffer González Colón gave him the same assignment.
Currently, Ramón Luis Rivera Cruz is a member of the Municipal Financing board as well as the board of the Municipal Revenue Collection Center. From both corporations he contributes his knowledge and vast administrative experience benefiting other municipalities of Puerto Rico.
In recognition of his career as a public server, on June 23,2023, the Central University of Bayamón awarded him an honoris causa doctorate degree in humanities.