Jose Chemo Soto

José Ramón Soto Rivera &mdash;better known as Chemo Soto&mdash; is the mayor of Canóvanas, Puerto Rico and a member of the New Progressive Party.

Soto began his tenure as mayor of Canóvanas when he was elected at the 1992 Puerto Rican general election. Soto beat candidates Estéban Meléndez (PPD) and Eduardo Betancourt (PIP) to win the seat. He has been reelected five consecutive times (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012) making him one of the longest tenured mayors in the island.

During his time in office, Soto has become known for his fervent belief in the existence of the Chupacabra. Since the 1990s, Soto has claimed that the mythical creature roams the terrains of Canóvanas. Ever since, he has organized various expeditions to search for it, without success.

In 2014, Soto announced his intention to retire from politics. He was succeeded as mayor by his daughter, Lornna Soto. However, the next year, Soto announced he would aspire to a seat in the Senate of Puerto Rico., but he was defeated in the 2016 primaries.

A high school at the San Isidro ward of Canóvanas, was named as school José Ramón Rivera Soto High School.

Personal life
Soto served in the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War and later a police officer in the Puerto Rico Police. Has nine children from several relationships. One of his daughters, Lornna Soto, was a Puerto Rican Senator. She was the product of his relationship with Delia "Niní" Villanueva. Other of his children are Cristal and Christian "Chemito" Soto Mujica. Christian recently pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in US Federal Court.