Luis Javier “Javy” Hernández Ortiz is an attorney and Puerto Rican public servant with more than two decades of experience in the legal and governmental fields. He is married to Mrs. Veggie Vanessa Vargas Santiago and is the father of two daughters, Victoria and Isabel. He began his career in municipal public service and was elected Mayor of Villalba, a position he held for three consecutive terms (2013–2024). During his tenure, he was unanimously elected President of the Puerto Rico Mayors Association for two terms (2020–2024), where he led initiatives focused on intermunicipal collaboration and the defense of municipal autonomy. His municipal administration was distinguished by its emergency management and government innovation. Following Hurricane Maria, he spearheaded the creation of Villalba Power, an initiative aimed at restoring electric service in the municipality. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he developed Puerto Rico’s first municipal contact-tracing system, a model that was later replicated in other municipalities across the Island. As part of the post-Maria reconstruction process, he led infrastructure and recovery projects representing more than $40 million in investment for the municipality. In the 2020 elections, he was reelected by the largest margin of victory in Villalba’s history. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Forensic Psychology from the University of Puerto Rico, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude, and a Juris Doctor from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico in Ponce, graduating Cum Laude. He also pursued studies in International Law and European Community Law at the Ortega y Gasset Foundation in Toledo, Spain. In January 2025, he was sworn in as an At-Large Senator in the Senate of Puerto Rico and was chosen by his colleagues to serve as Minority Leader in the Senate. As a senator, he has focused his legislative work on advocating for people with disabilities, strengthening municipalities, and promoting private-sector economic development, advancing legislation aimed at improving the quality of life and expanding opportunities for all Puerto Ricans.