Waldemar Volmar Méndez

Andrés Waldemar Volmar Méndez is a Puerto Rican politician and public servant for the New Progressive Party (PNP). He served as the Secretary of Sports and Recreation of Puerto Rico from 2017 to 2018, under Governor Ricardo Rosselló. Volmar is currently running for mayor of his hometown of Dorado, Puerto Rico on the 2020 Puerto Rican general election. He had previously run for the position in 2016, but was defeated by the incumbent Carlos López Rivera.

Waldemar Volmar Méndez
Secretary of Sports and Recreation of Puerto Rico
In office
January 2, 2017 – January 2, 2018
GovernorRicardo Rosselló
Preceded byRamón Orta
Succeeded byAdriana Sánchez Parés
Personal details
Born
Andrés Waldemar Volmar Méndez

1990/1991 (age 29–30)
Dorado, Puerto Rico
Political partyNew Progressive Party

Early career

Volmar Méndez was one of the singers of the Roberto Roena orchestra, Apollo Sound.[1] He also presided the ASSMCA National Young Leaders group, which promotes drug prevention through arts, recreation, and sports. In 2008, Volmar received an award from the Government of Puerto Rico for his work as a leader in recreation in his community.[2]

Political career

In 2016, Volmar Méndez presented his intentions to run for Mayor of his hometown of Dorado, Puerto Rico. He faced Melinda Romero Donnelly, daughter of former Puerto Rico Governor Carlos Romero Barceló, in a primary, winning by a margin of 56.4–43.6.[3][4] However, Volmar was defeated at the 2016 elections by the incumbent Carlos López Rivera.[5]

In December 2016, Governor-elect Ricardo Rosselló appointed Volmar Méndez as Secretary of Sports and Recreation of Puerto Rico.[2] He was confirmed by the Senate of Puerto Rico in March 2017.[6] During his tenure, Volmar was criticized by recreation leaders for strict budget cuts to numerous sports and athletics programs.[7] He was also criticized by Henry Neumann, a member of his party and former Secretary of Sports and Recreation, as well as his former opponent in Dorado, Carlos López Rivera.[8][9] In January 2018, Volmar abruptly resigned, citing personal reasons.[10]

After resigning, Volmar briefly retook his musical career.[1][11] However, in 2019 he announced his intentions to run for mayor of Dorado again and received the support of then-Governor Ricardo Rosselló.[12]

References
  1. Costa, Juan (January 21, 2018). "Exsecretario del DRD regresa a la tarima con Roena". NotiCel.
  2. "Gobernador electo de Puerto Rico incluye a cantante de salsa a su gabinete". Agencia EFE. December 6, 2016.
  3. "Primarias 2016: Alcaldía de Dorado". CEEPUR.org.
  4. "Cantante Waldemar Volmar Méndez derrota a Melida". WAPA.tv.
  5. "Elecciones Generales – Escrutinio 2016". CEEPUR.
  6. "Senado confirma a Andrés Waldemar Volmar Méndez como Secretario de Recreación y Deportes". VillalbaOnline. March 1, 2017.
  7. González, Carlos (August 1, 2017). "Secretario del DRD amoló las tijeras y realizó severos recortes". Primera Hora.
  8. Muñiz, Yamaira (January 16, 2018). "Exsecretario del DRD asegura que hizo su trabajo". El Vocero.
  9. "Exsecretario de DRD 'no jugaba ni bolita de trapo'". NotiCel. January 15, 2018.
  10. "Renuncia el secretario de Recreación y Deportes, Andrés Waldemar Volmar". El Nuevo Día. January 12, 2018.
  11. Hernández, Damaris (October 30, 2019). "Exsecretario de Recreación y Deportes se lanza como solista". El Nuevo Día.
  12. "Espaldarazo a Waldemar en Dorado". El Expresso. June 27, 2019.
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