Geraldo Alckmin

Early life, education and career

Geraldo José Rodriguez Alckmin Filho was born in the city of Pindamonhangaba, Vale do Paraíba. Alckmin is the son of Gerlado José Rodriguez Alckmin and Miriam Penteado. Gerlado is the nephew of José Geraldo Rodriguez de Alckmin, who was a minister of the Supreme Federal Court. According to Época magazine, Geraldo received a CHristian formation from the Opus Dei Catholic prelature, and told the magazine that his uncle Jose Geraldo was from Opus Dei.

Geraldo is married to Maria Lúcia Ribeiro Alckmin and is the father of three children. Sophia, Geraldo and Thomaz. Thomaz died in a helicopter accident on 2 April 2015.

Political career

While still in his first year of medical school, Alckmin began his political career in 1972 when he was elected to the Pindamonhangaba city council (1973–1977), and then its mayor (1977–1982). At age 25, he was the youngest Brazilian mayor. He was elected a federal deputy for two terms, (1983–1987 and 1987–1994), distinguishing himself by authoring consumer protection laws. In 1988, he was one of the founders of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB).

He was elected vice governor of São Paulo, Mário Covas's running-mate first in the 1994 election and then again in 1998. With the death of Covas, he assumed the governorship of the state of São Paulo in March, 2001, he continued Covas' policies, investing in large, state-run projects, health and education programs. All of these investments were possible through privatization programs that sold off public and state-owned companies. He was elected governor on October 27, 2002, through a runoff election, for the 2003-2006 term, with 12 million votes (or 58.64%). His current administration is marked by a reduction in the state payroll from 49% to 46% of the state's budget, the unification of purchasing systems and other "smart spending" initiatives, as well as the implementation of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).

2006 Presidential Election

On March 14, 2006, PSDB nominated Alckmin as its candidate for the Brazilian presidency. Because of electoral rules, no candidate running for office may currently be in an executive office, forcing him to resign the governorship on March 31, 2006. Cláudio Lembo, the lieutenant governor, finished Alckmin's term. Alckmin's party mate, José Serra, the PSDB's presidential standard-bearer who lost to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2002, then announced his candidacy to replace Alckmin in the 2006 state elections. Serra won the vote in Brazil's first round elections on October 1, 2006 and was elected as the governor of São Paulo.

Contrary to all major polls taken in the run-up to the October 1, 2006 balloting, Alckmin surprised almost everyone and came in second place in the presidential election. His 41.64% of the vote, along with votes cast for two, less significant candidates, as well as ballots that were left blank or spoiled, was enough to deny the simple majority necessary to re-elect incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (known by the nickname Lula) in the first electoral round. Lula and Alckmin faced one another in a run-off election on October 29, 2006, in which Alckmin actually lost votes in comparison to the first run and Lula was reelected the president of Brazil.

Return to São Paulo

On January 19, 2009, Geraldo was appointed Secretary of Development for the State of São Paulo by then-Governor José Serra.

State Elections 2010

At the PSDB Convenction held on June 13, 2010, Alckmin was officially named the party's candidate for the São Paulo government.

Alckmin was elected governor in the first round with 11.5 million votes (50.63%) defeating Senator Aloizio Mercadante (PT) who obtained 8 million votes (35.23%).

Third term as Governor; 2011-2014

Alckmin assumed the government of São Paulo for the third time on January 1, 2011. The inauguration took place during a ceremony held at State Legislative Assembly.

His administration in 2013 faces strikes in education and health. After the readjustment in the passage of the metropolitan trains and the subway, great manifestations of protests began, that also happened in all Brazil. The readjustment was later suspended by Alckmin and the mayor of São Paulo, Fernando Haddad.

Alckmin's reelection campaign for 2014 was officialized on June 29, 2014. In the first round, on October 5, 2014, he was re-elected with 12.2 million votes (57.31%), being the second highest percentage of votes since the redemocratization of Brazil.

Fourth Term; 2015-present

Geraldo Alckmin took office for the fourth time as governor of São Paulo on January 1, 2015.