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Profiles of Latino politicians

amNewYork

October 10, 2007

Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion Jr.

Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, taken April 14, 2004. (Newsday File Photo/ Viorel Florescu / October 9, 2007)

Melissa Mark Viverito
City Council District 8 East Harlem, South Bronx
Previous jobs: Health care union organizer for 1199 SEUI New York; Director of the Hispanic Education and Legal Fund
Quick fact: First Latina elected to represent East Harlem

Quote: "I was one of those believers that the process is rigged," said Viverito to amNY on how she got into politics. "I'm an activist, I'm an organizer."

Joel Rivera
City Council District 15 Central Bronx
Previous jobs: Political science undergraduate at Fordham University
Quick facts: Introduced a bill to restrict the number of fast food restaurants in the city; introduced a bill to raise the legal smoking age in New York to 21
Quote: "I've been involved ever since I was young," Rivera told amNY. "My father put me to the test."

Miguel Martinez
City Council District 10 Washington Heights, Inwood
Previous jobs: member of Community Planning Board 12; appointee of the Attorney General's Crime Victim Advisory Board; Director of the Victim Services Childcare Domestic Violence Network
Quick fact: Martinez worked six years as a bilingual teacher in school district 6
Quote: "We're very vulnerable," said Martinez on attracting business to Washington Heights. "A shopping center, that's huge for our community."