 During his second term, in 1973, he became the first Hispanic to become vice-president of the National League of Cities and in 1974 became president of the organization.He served as mayor until 1976 when he defeated incumbent Governor Rafael Hernández Colón.While Hernán Padilla was elected to succeed him, technically, his immediate successor was Carlos S. Quirós, his Vice Mayor who became full Mayor for over a week until Padilla's term began.