George Alvarez (politician)
{{Short description|American-Dominican politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| image = (03-08-23) George Alvarez.jpg
| name = George Alvarez
| honorific-suffix =
| order =
| office = Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 78th district
| term_start = January 3, 2023
| term_end =
| predecessor = Jose Rivera
| successor =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Dominican Republic
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| residence = The Bronx, New York City, New York
| spouse =
| children =
| alma_mater =
| occupation =
| signature = George Alvarez Signature.png
| website = {{URL|https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/George-Alvarez/}}
}}
George Alvarez is an American politician who currently represents the 78th District of the New York State Assembly as a Democrat.
Early life
Alvarez was born in the Dominican Republic with an Afro-Caribbean background. He graduated with a degree in Computer Science in the Dominican Republic before earning a master's degree in Logistics in Madrid, Spain. Raised in a single parent household, his family moved to the Bronx, where Alvarez was a community leader.{{cite web |title=George Alvarez |url=https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/George-Alvarez/bio/ |website=New York State Assembly |access-date=14 August 2023}}
Political career
Alvarez started his political career by serving as a member of Community board 1. He also served as the vice-president of the Bronx Democratic Party.{{cite web |last1=Aponte |first1=Claudia Irizarry |last2=Joseph |first2=George |title=Socialists and Big Business Both Lose Bids to Sway State Assembly Elections |url=https://www.thecity.nyc/2022/6/29/23188914/state-assembly-incumbents-win |website=The City |access-date=14 August 2023}} Alvarez challenged four decade incumbent Jose Rivera in the primary for the 78th District. Although Rivera was the heavy favorite to win the election, in no small part due to the PACs supporting him, Alvarez defeated the Assemblyman with 28% of the vote to his 22%.{{cite web |last1=Benitez |first1=Juan Manuel |title=Assemblyman José Rivera ends a 40-year career in elected office |url=https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2022/06/29/assemblyman-jos--rivera-ends-a-40-year-career-in-elected-office |website=NY1 |access-date=14 August 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Sequeira |first1=Robbie |title=Longtime incumbent José Rivera ‘shocked’ by George Alvarez for AD 78 seat in lopsided loss |url=https://politicsny.com/2022/06/29/longtime-incumbent-jose-rivera-shocked-by-george-alvarez-who-claims-ad-78-seat-in-lopsided-win/ |website=politicsny.com |access-date=14 August 2023}} An election lawyer, Aaron Foldenauer, accused Alvarez of illegally harvesting signatures to have appeared on the ballot in the first place.{{cite web |last1=Bragg |first1=Chris |last2=Ward |first2=Rebekah F |title=Longshot Assembly candidates faced a mogul's millions |url=https://www.timesunion.com/state/article/With-financier-s-1-5M-an-outside-group-knocked-17172084.php |website=Times Union |access-date=14 August 2023}}
Alvarez has been a vocal supporter of the New York Clean Slate Act which, if passed, will seal the records of some convicts upon their release from prison, in an effort to increase their integration into society, lower re-offending rates, and allow them to maintain stable jobs.{{cite web |last1=Reisman |first1=Nick |title=Criminal record sealing measure gains backing in New York Assembly |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/ny-state-of-politics/2023/02/15/record-sealing-measure-gains-backing-in-assembly |website=NY1 |access-date=14 August 2023}}
= Committee Membership =
- Aging
- Consumer Affairs and Protection
- Labor
- Real Property Taxation
- Transportation
- Black, Puerto Rico, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus
- Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-ny-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=Jose Rivera}}
{{s-ttl|title=New York State Assembly, 78th District|years=2023–}}
{{s-aft|after=Incumbent}}
{{s-end}}
{{New York State Assembly}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alvarez, George}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in New York (state)
Category:Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly
Category:Dominican Republic emigrants to the United States
Category:American politicians of Dominican Republic descent
Category:21st-century members of the New York State Legislature