M anuel Natal is just 34 years old and has already made history in his native Puerto Rico. He became the youngest person elected to its House of Representatives in 2013. He won more than half of the vote when he ran for a second term in 2016. After getting elected Natal made an abrupt change. He left his original party to become an independent when he saw “corruption that couldn’t be ignored.”
Despite having the pedigree to be part of the new political class — he has a bachelors from Cornell University and a law degree from University of Puerto Rico. However Natal has a different vision: serving his country to the best of his ability. This is why the basketball loving, aspiring vegan has set his sights on making history again: getting elected the Mayor of San Juan with a new political party that has nothing to do with the old guard.
Natal spoke to ‘LLERO about how student activism impacted his views on creating change, transforming a chip on his shoulder to make an impact, and how he wants Puerto Rico to be a country everyone deserves.
‘LLERO: Before going into politics, what were you doing? Was being public in office always a goal?
Manuel: I started my own law firm with two colleagues. We were representing workers and unions. I did that for close to two years in between graduating and becoming an elected official. The only thing I was publicly known for was the student movement.
I think from a very early age I always saw public service as an opportunity to help people. When asked what I wanted to do when I grew up, I’d say “Governor of Puerto Rico, then I can help more people.” I understood that basic concept growing up.
After I went to Cornell and came back to Puerto Rico for law school it became clear I had my end goal correct but I confused the ends and the means. The end is to be able to help people; it could be in public service, as an organizer or public servant. The specific positions were not important.
‘LL: You ran for office at just 27 years old. Why?
Manuel: I graduated from University Puerto Rico law school in 2011. I was part of a student movement that fought for 68 days against tuition increases, fighting against the elimination of financial aid for student athletes. We stopped the university system until we were able to get a commitment from the board of trustees that they would eliminate increases. That paved the way. We were able to come together regardless of different opinions in terms of the status and politics. As we graduated we needed to continue this fight. Some of us did it in workers organizations, others in non-profits. I decided to try and occupy a space in which youth were not represented: electoral politics. I ran in 2013 for a seat I had no business winning. I got elected by 54% of the vote against the political establishment that was in power.
‘LL: Why did you leave Partido Popular Democratica (PPD)?
Manuel: In 2018 I decided to leave the PPD because of corruption and conflicts of interest I saw in the party. I called it out. The executive board said they weren’t going to do anything about it. The principles of the party went against the best interests of the people. Leadership were involved with business dealings with organizations and people that had done, and continued to do, a lot of harm to people. At that moment, I said I’m not looking the other way. I don’t have establishment or financial interests. The people of Puerto Rico believe in my integrity, in my credibility. I’m not willing to throw that away.
‘LL: How did going to college in the mainland change you? What did you come away with from the experience?
Manuel: I was away from my family, in a culture that wasn’t my own, in a place where I was literally by myself, with a language I wasn’t dominate in. I didn’t feel comfortable speaking English–I would be thinking in Spanish and translating and then articulating. Not coming from a school that traditionally sends students to the Ivy League gave me a chip on my shoulder. I thought, ‘I need to come here and prove myself.’ It all came full circle during graduation. I represented my class and presented the commencement speaker Maya Angelou. Not only did I survive four years but I was able to leave a mark on the place. As an individual it was one of the biggest privileges of my life. Cornell also reinforced that vision I had for public service. It was instrumental in helping me shape myself politically in terms of what I wanted for my country and implement all of the knowledge I gained. It allowed me to see my island from afar, remove myself from the day to day and reflect upon our current situation but our past and history and where we want to go.
‘LL: Why are you running for mayor of San Juan?
Manuel: I live in Viejo San Juan, was born and raised in San Juan. I knew it would be a challenge. It’s the capital with the biggest budget, biggest population, it’s a mini Puerto Rico. For us it was important to show that we not only could fix the things done wrong by previous administrations, but shown a path to legislative initiatives and improve quality of life. In San Juan we can put all those ideas and initiatives in place to show people we can have a different government that puts people’s best interests first. It’s not necessarily the safest path [to stay in office.] I would have had a better opportunity to be elected in the House or even the Senate. It’s not the easiest path but I think it allows me to implement changes needed with the urgency that we need.
‘LL: Tell me about the new party you’re part of, Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana. What makes it different?
Manuel: It is an alliance between a lot of people that don’t feel represented by the two main parties. Some that have participated in public office as independent candidates, others that have done their work outside of electoral politics. We could no longer stand by while the two parties (PDP and Partido Nuevo Progresista) are making decisions that are not in our best interests. Political parties in Puerto Rico are organized exclusively around the status issue–commonwealth, statehood, independence. Status is how people are electing people vs. on the issues that are affecting them. As a movement, we do not endorse a particular option, we endorse a process. We believe that people should be able to work together, in a constitutional assembly to address it, and other issues in Puerto Rico. That’s the main difference. Regardless of [status] Puerto Rico should be a place with social equality, quality and accessible public education, decent healthcare. Let’s tackle all those issues and move towards decolonization. That’s what we’re fighting for.
‘LL: You call yourself a public servant, not a politician. What’s the difference between them for you?
Manuel: I wear the uniform of a public servant. I had gotten there representing a party. But once you’re in that role you become a public servant and you have to represent the best interests of the people. It might conflict with what’s best for the party’s future or re-election. If you’re truly a servant, you put people before that. That’s not a philosophy a lot of people in elected positions share. That also led to my decision of leaving PPD. It was all about party politics.
‘LL: Is it possible for a political outsider, like yourself, to make their way into the political position and work for the people instead of themselves?
Manuel: Going to a great university in the U.S. I had a very unique circumstances–a combination of luck, privilege and hard work. We’re trying to build this movement to change that. Citizens Victory Movement has dozens of candidates 18-22 years old running for city council and more. We’re building a movement to provide a level playing field so others can get to where I am and succeed further. That’s my generational responsibility. I have to leave our country in a better position than I found it.
‘LL: What sets you apart from other candidates running?
Manuel: My trajectory. I’ve had the privilege of being a public servant for seven years. I’ve always stayed true to my principles and things I believe are in the best interest for the people of Puerto Rico. That has come at a great cost: personally and politically. I’m ok with that because that’s the way I see public service. That sets me apart from the other candidates; all of them have put party politics over what’s best for the people they represent. That’s not the leadership we need in San Juan, in Puerto Rico or anywhere. We need individuals 100% exclusively to constituents not funders or parties.
‘LL: Do you still want to be Puerto Rico’s governor?
Manuel: The first time I was sworn in I told myself: “Whatever you do, don’t become what you set out to change.” If that means I don’t become governor, so be it. I’m not passionate about having a title. I don’t live that movie. I’m passionate about changing my country. I believe in honest and decent public servants. I’ll do that in every space or position I’m allowed.