José Peralta
Member of the New York Senate
from the 13th district
In office
March 17, 2010 – November 21, 2018
Preceded byHiram Monserrate
Succeeded byJessica Ramos
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 39th district
In office
January 1, 2003 – March 17, 2010
Preceded byFrank Seddio
Succeeded byFrancisco Moya
Personal details
Born
José Rafael Peralta

(1971-11-10)November 10, 1971
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedNovember 21, 2018(2018-11-21) (aged 47)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Other political
affiliations		Independent Democratic Conference (2017–2018)
SpouseEvelyn
Children2
EducationQueens College, City University of New York
WebsiteState Senate website

José Rafael Peralta (November 10, 1971 – November 21, 2018) was an American politician who served in the New York State Assembly and New York State Senate.[1] A member of the Democratic Party, he last represented District 13 in the State Senate, which includes the Queens neighborhoods of Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Woodside.[2] He previously represented District 39 in the New York State Assembly, which is located in Queens, New York and includes Corona, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights.[3] He was elected to the New York State Senate in a landslide on March 16, 2010.[4] Peralta was a member of the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC), a group of Democratic senators who allied themselves with Senate Republicans.[5][6][7][8] He was re-elected in 2012, 2014 and 2016, but was defeated in the 2018 Democratic primary.

Peralta died of leukemia at the age of 47 on November 21, 2018.[9]

Life and family

Born in New York City on November 10, 1971, Peralta was a first-generation Dominican-American.[10][11] After immigrating to the United States from the Dominican Republic, Peralta's father was employed as a bank teller.[11] His mother, Rose Hernandez,[12] worked as a seamstress.[11] At the age of 8, Peralta moved with his family from Washington Heights, Manhattan to Queens. Peralta attended public elementary school in New York City and graduated from Flushing High School in 1989.[11] He enrolled at Queens College, City University of New York and became the first Latino Student Body President at the college.[11] Peralta graduated from Queens College in 1996, with a degree in psychology.[13][14]

After graduating from Queens College, Peralta was a community liaison in the New York State Assembly.[3][15] Peralta represented the interests of immigrants on the New York City Central Labor Council,[15][16] serving in the position of Director of the Commission on the Dignity for Immigrants.[3][11]

Peralta was a political staffer on campaigns in New York including Brian McLaughlin's campaign for New York State Assembly, Toby Stavisky's campaign for New York State Senate, Alan Hevesi election bid for New York City Comptroller and Hillary Clinton's campaign for United States Senate.[15] Peralta was married to Evelyn, and had two sons, Myles and Matthew.[17]

Political career

New York State Assembly

In the November 5, 2002 election, Peralta won a seat in the New York State Assembly representing District 39.[15] He ran as a Democrat and beat candidate Charles Gonzales, a Republican.[15] Peralta received 76 percent of the votes cast.[18][19][20] He was the first Hispanic from Queens, New York to win an election to serve in the New York state Assembly.[21][22][23] The 39th Assembly District in New York was created in 2002 as a result of the significant increase in immigrant population in the region.[21][24] Peralta was sworn in as a member of the Assembly by Civil Court Judge Diccia Pineda, also of Dominican heritage.[12] Peralta took the oath of office in Corona, New York at the New York Hall of Science.[12] In attendance at Peralta's swearing-in ceremony were United States Senator Charles Schumer, Speaker of the New York State Assembly Sheldon Silver and Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin.[12]

In March 2004, Peralta requested that state Republican leadership pass legislation which proposed to increase the state's minimum wage to $7.15 per hour.[25] In April 2007, Peralta introduced anti-gang legislation in the Assembly that focused on creating Gang Free School Zones surrounding schools in New York.[26] In June 2007, Peralta was among a majority of the Assembly that voted to support passage of a same-sex marriage bill in New York.[27] In January 2008, Peralta co-signed legislation with Sheldon Silver, Audrey Pheffer and Rory I. Lancman which put forth a proposal of $150 million in funding for families that had the possibility of their homes being foreclosed upon.[28]

Peralta worked with fellow Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry to change the Rockefeller drug laws.[3] Peralta served in the Assembly as Chair of the Subcommittee on Banking in Underserved Communities.[3] He worked to encourage banks to move into underserved regions through his Banking Development District legislation.[3]

New York State Senate

In October 2009, Peralta stated his intention to run for the New York State Senate for a seat representing District 13.[29] The Queens Democratic Party lent support to Peralta in his campaign for the Senate seat.[29] An article in The New York Times in October 2009 described Peralta as "one of the party’s rising stars".[30] Politician Hiram Monserrate was expelled from the Senate on February 9, 2010 by a 53–8 vote of his former colleagues after being convicted of misdemeanor assault on his girlfriend Karla Giraldo.[29] Peralta became a candidate for the March 16, 2010 special election to fill the Senate seat left vacant due to Monserrate's expulsion.[29]

The Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers endorsed Peralta on February 26, 2010.[31] Civil rights activist Al Sharpton endorsed Peralta in February 2010.[32] On March 2, 2010, Peralta received an endorsement from New York City Council member Julissa Ferreras.[33] Peralta received the endorsement of the Empire State Pride Agenda (ESPA) due to his support for LGBT rights.[34] Peralta also received endorsements from groups including the New York chapter of the National Organization for Women,[35] building services workers union the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) sector 32BJ[36] and Fight Back New York.[37] On March 16, 2010, Peralta was elected to the New York State Senate.[4] He was sworn in on March 17.[38]

In January 2017, Peralta joined the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC), a group of Democratic senators that caucused with the Senate Republicans, allowing the Republicans to control the chamber.[39] After joining the majority coalition, he was named vice chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Telecommunications. Peralta received a $12,500 stipend (known as a "lulu") for his position as vice chair, although state law designates these stipends for committee chairs only.[40] The Republican conference submitted falsified payroll information listing Peralta as committee chair so that he could receive the stipend, although the IDC argued that Peralta was legally entitled to the stipends for his position as vice chair.[41]

In April 2018, Peralta and his IDC colleagues rejoined the Senate Democratic Conference.[42][43]

In the September 2018 Democratic Party primary, Peralta was defeated by Jessica Ramos, a board member of the Jackson Heights Beautification Group.[44][45][46] Peralta's nine-point loss was attributed to long-simmering anger with the former members of the IDC. Due to New York State's electoral fusion laws allowing candidates to run on multiple ballot lines in an election, Peralta appeared in the November 6, 2018 general election as the third-party candidate for the Independence Party of New York, the Women's Equality Party and the Reform Party of New York State;[47][48][49][50] however, Peralta conceded the race to Ramos and promised to support her campaign.[51]

Election results

Jose R. Peralta (DEM – WOR)...5,782
Charley S. Gonzalez (REP – IND – CON – RTL)...2,085
Jose R. Peralta (DEM – WOR)...12,415
Giash U. Ahmed (REP)...1,966
Jose R. Peralta (DEM – WOR)...7,081
(uncontested)
Jose R. Peralta (DEM – WOR)...12,664
(uncontested)
Jose R. Peralta (DEM – WOR)...10,337
Robert Beltrani (REP)...1,162
Hiram Monserrate (YWC)...4,223
Jose R. Peralta (DEM – WOR)...23,962
Richard La Salle (REP – IND – CON)...4,979
Jose R. Peralta (DEM – WOR)...49,893

(uncontested)

Jose R. Peralta (DEM – WOR)...19,968

(uncontested)

Jose R. Peralta (DEM – WOR)...59,896
Jesus Gonzalez (REP – CON – REF )...9,162

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Tweet of Condolence from State Senator Michael Gianaris". Twitter. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  2. ↑ Trapasso, Clare; Feeney, Michael J.; Standora, Leo (2010-03-16). "Ousted state Sen. Hiram Monserrate loses bid to regain seat as Assemblyman Jose Peralta triumphs". New York: Associated Press.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cruz, Claudia (March 2, 2010). "Special Election Profile: Jose Peralta". The Queens Courier. Schneps Publications, Inc. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  4. 1 2 Santos, Fernanda (March 16, 2010). "Monserrate Loses Bid to Regain Seat". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
  5. ↑ NYSenate (2017-01-09), New York State Senate Session – 01/04/17, archived from the original on 2021-12-13, retrieved 2018-01-11
  6. ↑ McKinley, Jesse (May 9, 2017). "For Group of Breakaway Democrats in New York, It Pays to Be No. 2". The New York Times. Retrieved 2017-10-04.
  7. ↑ Kaplan, Thomas; Hakim, Danny (December 5, 2012). "Coalition Is to Control State Senate as Dissident Democrats Join With Republicans". The New York Times. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Senator Jesse Hamilton". 16 December 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  9. ↑ "State Sen. Jose Peralta Died From Leukemia: Medical Examiner". NBC New York. January 15, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  10. ↑ "State Senate: Jose Rafael Peralta (D), District 13". Capitol Info. Archived from the original on March 29, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Biography". Jose Peralta for State Senate. www.joseperalta.com. 2010. p. Bio. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Toscano, John (February 5, 2003). "Weiner Wins Key Transportation Panel Post; 1st Queens Hispanic Assembly Member sworn". The Queens Gazette. www.qgazette.com. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  13. ↑ "State Assembly 39th District – Voters Guide". Newsday. Long Island, New York, Queens edition. November 3, 2002. p. G22.
  14. ↑ "Alumni Relations". QC Queens College. Queens College, City University of New York. 2009. Archived from the original on 2012-08-05. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 "Biographies – Jose Peralta". Gotham Gazette. Citizens Union Foundation. 2002. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  16. ↑ Virasami, Bryan; Ron Howell (February 15, 2002). "Putting Latinos, Asians On Map". Newsday. www.puertorico-herald.org. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  17. ↑ Santos, Fernando; Rebecca White (March 16, 2010). "Monserrate and Peralta Hit the Polls in State Senate Race". The New York Times. p. City Room. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
  18. ↑ Murphy, William (January 3, 2003). "Pataki Moving To Latin Beat". Newsday. Long Island, New York, Queens edition. p. A16.
  19. ↑ Silvestre, Edmund M. (November 14, 2002). "Gonzales loses bid for assembly". Filipino Reporter.
  20. ↑ Campo, Antonio C. (December 12, 2002). "Piece of cake: Dream of Fil-Am political empowerment dies in Qns". Filipino Reporter.
  21. 1 2 Ruiz, Albor (January 23, 2005). "Dem club embracing its future". New York Daily News. www.nydailynews.com. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  22. ↑ Howell, Ron (August 20, 2002). "Who Will Be the First Latino? – Three Assembly hopefuls vie to make history in Queens". Newsday. Long Island, New York, Queens edition. p. A29.
  23. ↑ Toscano, John (May 21, 2003). "Eye on politics – DA Brown, Council Candidates Get Dem Nod". The Queens Gazette. www.qgazette.com. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  24. ↑ Toscano, John (February 2, 2005). "Onorato: GOP State Senate Changes Add Up To 'Real Reform Rejected'". The Queens Gazette. www.qgazette.com. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  25. ↑ Woodberry Jr., Warren (March 18, 2004). "New York Assemblyman Pushes Republicans to Pass Minimum-Wage Hike". New York Daily News. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
  26. ↑ Toscano, John (April 11, 2007). "Gang Menace In Schools Addressed By Peralta Bill". The Queens Gazette. www.qgazette.com. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  27. ↑ "Gay-Marriage Bill Passes, Fails, and Freaks Out a Bronx Dem". New York Magazine. www.nymag.com. June 20, 2007. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  28. ↑ Hampton, Matt (January 10, 2008). "Politicians Attack Foreclosure Crisis". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  29. 1 2 3 4 Davis, Pete (March 2, 2010). "A truly Special Election in Queens". The Queens Courier. Schneps Publications, Inc. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  30. ↑ Confessore, Nicholas (October 28, 2009). "Queens Party Is Expected to Dump Monserrate". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  31. ↑ Benjamin, Elizabeth (February 26, 2010). "Department Of Questionable Timing". New York Daily News. www.nydailynews.com. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  32. ↑ Benjamin, Elizabeth (February 25, 2010). "Odds and Ends". New York Daily News. www.nydailynews.com. Archived from the original on March 1, 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  33. ↑ Benjamin, Elizabeth (March 2, 2010). "Ferreras E-mails For Peralta". New York Daily News. www.nydailynews.com. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  34. ↑ Chang, Ailsa (March 1, 2010). "Religious Groups Endorse Monserrate". WNYC. www.wnyc.org. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  35. ↑ "Sears Out, Beltrani GOP Choice In Special Election; Peralta Support Swells". The Queens Gazette. www.qgazette.com. March 3, 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  36. ↑ Velte, Marcy L. (March 1, 2010). "Same-sex marriage advocates gunning for Monserrate". Legislative Gazette. www.legislativegazette.com. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  37. ↑ Rovzar, Chris (March 4, 2010). "Is Hiram Monserrate Just Running Against Gay People Now?". New York Magazine. www.nymag.com. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  38. ↑ Benjamin, Elizabeth (March 17, 2010). "Sen. Peralta". Daily News. Archived from the original on October 31, 2010. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  39. ↑ "Sen. Jose Peralta defects to IDC". Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  40. ↑ McKinley, Jesse (May 9, 2017). "For Group of Breakaway Democrats in New York, It Pays to Be No. 2". New York Times. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  41. ↑ McKinley, Jesse (May 11, 2017). "False Payroll Information Allows 3 State Senators to Collect Thousands". New York Times. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  42. ↑ Wang, Vivian (April 16, 2018). "As Session Resumes, a Democratic Truce in Albany Seems Uneasy". The New York Times. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  43. ↑ Spector, Joseph (April 16, 2018). "After seven years, it's all over for the Senate Independent Democratic Conference". LoHud.com. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  44. ↑ Pix11News (September 13, 2018). "Jessica Ramos beats incumbent Sen. Jose Peralta in Jackson Heights". Pix 11 News. Retrieved September 13, 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  45. ↑ Vivian Wang (September 13, 2018). "Democratic Insurgents Topple 6 New York Senate Incumbents". The New York Times. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  46. ↑ "New York State Unofficial Election Night Results". New York State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  47. ↑ Silberstein, Rachel (September 20, 2018). "Not all of New York's defeated ex-IDC members have conceded". Times Union. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  48. ↑ Susan Arbetter [@sarbetter] (September 14, 2018). "Here's a corrected rundown of the party lines that former IDCers' who lost their Democratic primaries are still on: Klein: Ind Valesky: Ind; WEP Peralta: Ind; Reform; WEP Hamilton: Ind; WEP Alcantara: Ind Avella: Ind; WEP" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  49. ↑ Mahoney, Bill (September 17, 2018). "Life after defeat? Questions remain about plans for Democratic primary losers". Politico. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  50. ↑ Lewis, Rebecca C. (September 14, 2018). "Defeated ex-IDC members have yet to concede". City & State NY. Archived from the original on September 18, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  51. ↑ Liz Benjamin [@CTLizB] (September 14, 2018). "@SenatorPeralta: "If we want to move New York forward, all Democrats must work together. In that spirit, I will be supporting Ms. Ramos in the general election, and I will assist her in whatever capacity to ensure a smooth transition."" (Tweet). Retrieved September 23, 2018 – via Twitter.
  52. ↑ "General Election Results, State Senate: November 5, 2002" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 13, 2002.
  53. ↑ "General Election Results, State Senate: November 2, 2004" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 6, 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 23, 2012.
  54. ↑ "General Election Results, State Senate: November 7, 2006" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 14, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 22, 2012.
  55. ↑ "General Election Results, State Senate: November 4, 2008" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 4, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 23, 2012.
  56. ↑ "Special Election Results, 13th Senate District: March 16, 2010" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 23, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  57. ↑ "General Election Results, State Senate: November 2, 2010" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 13, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 23, 2012.
  58. ↑ "General Election Results, State Senate: November 8, 2012" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 13, 2012.
  59. ↑ "General Election Results, State Senate: November 5, 2014" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 13, 2014.
  60. ↑ "2016 Election Results" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 13, 2014.
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