Roxanne Persaud

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Roxanne Persaud

| office =

| term_start = November 4, 2015

| term_end =

| predecessor = John Sampson

| successor =

| office2 = Member of the New York Assembly
from the 59th district

| term_start2 = January 1, 2015

| term_end2 = November 4, 2015

| predecessor2 = Alan Maisel

| successor2 = Jaime Williams

| image = Roxanne Persaud.jpg

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|03|01}}

| birth_place = St. Cuthbert's Mission, British Guiana (present-day Guyana)

| party = Democratic

| alma_mater = Pace University (BS, MS)

| website = {{URL| https://roxannepersaud.com/|Campaign website}}
[https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/roxanne-j-persaud Official website]

| state_senate = New York State

| district = 19th

| residence = Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

}}

Roxanne Persaud (born March 1, 1966) is a Guyanese-American politician. She is a Democrat and a member of the New York Senate for the 19th district, which includes portions of Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Ocean Hill and Starrett City in Brooklyn.

Life and career

A native of Guyana, Persaud immigrated with her family to Brooklyn, New York as a young person.{{cite news |url=http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2015/10/22/public-service-persaud-moving-ladder-fast |title=In Public Service: Persaud moving up ladder fast |work=Brooklyn Eagle |date=2015-10-22 |access-date=2016-01-25 }} She is of Dougla (Indo-Guyanese and Afro-Guyanese) heritage.{{cite web|url=http://www.indocaribbean.org/gala-2016.html|title=Gala 2016|website=Indo-Caribbean Alliance, Inc.|access-date=31 January 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://guyanesegirlsrock.com/guyanese-born-new-york-assemblywoman-roxanne-persaud-elected-new-york-state-senate/|title=Guyanese-born New York Assemblywoman, Roxanne Persaud, was elected to the New York State Senate – Guyanese Girls Rock!|website=guyanesegirlsrock.com|access-date=31 January 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.timesunion.com/tuplus-local/article/New-York-s-immigrant-lawmakers-make-their-mark-6753278.php|title=New York's immigrant lawmakers make their mark|date=2016-01-13|work=Times Union|access-date=2018-09-30}} She graduated from Pace University with both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Education Administration before entering a career in education.{{cite news |url=http://observer.com/2015/08/brooklyn-democrats-will-endorse-assemblywoman-to-replace-john-sampson/ |title=Brooklyn Democrats Will Endorse Assemblywoman to Replace John Sampson |work=Observer |date=2015-08-25 |access-date=2016-01-25 }}{{Cite web|title=About Roxanne J. Persaud|url=https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/roxanne-j-persaud/about|access-date=2021-03-29|website=NY State Senate|language=en}}

Persaud previously served as a school administrator with Pace University and St. Francis College, Brooklyn, and also was involved with her community board in Canarsie, and has served on numerous boards and commissions for the community.{{cite news |url=http://observer.com/2014/01/front-runner-emerges-for-canarsie-assembly-seat/ |title=Front-Runner Emerges for Canarsie Assembly Seat |work=Observer |date=2014-01-03 |access-date=2016-01-25 }} In 2015, Persaud won the Democratic nomination to succeed Alan Maisel in the New York Assembly, and served from January to November 2015.{{cite news |url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20140729/crown-heights/five-brooklyn-seats-legislature-are-vacant-here-are-candidates |title=Here Are the Candidates for Brooklyn's 5 Vacant State Legislature Seats |work=DNAinfo |date=2014-07-29 |access-date=2016-01-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130231337/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20140729/crown-heights/five-brooklyn-seats-legislature-are-vacant-here-are-candidates |archive-date=2016-01-30 }}

New York Senate

In 2015, Senator John Sampson was found guilty of corruption and forced to resign. Persaud, then a first-term Assemblywoman, was chosen by the Kings County Democratic Party to succeed him, and easily won election that November to finish his term.{{cite news |url=http://www.kingscountypolitics.com/persaud-cruises-to-easy-win-in-19th-senate-district-race/ |title=Persaud Cruises To Easy Win In 19th Senate District Race |work=Kings County Politics (Blog) |date=2015-11-04 |access-date=2016-01-25 }} In 2016, Persaud faced a primary challenge from Mercedes Narcisse, who was backed by Assemblyman Charles Barron and Councilwoman Inez Barron. Persaud easily defeated Narcisse with over 75% of the vote.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=822968|title=Our Campaigns - NY State Senate 19 - D Primary Race - Sep 13, 2016|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=2019-01-30}} Persaud easily won re-election in 2016, 2018, and 2020.

Persaud was sworn in as state Senator on November 4, 2015. In 2019, with Democrats gaining the majority in the Senate, Persaud was named Chair of the Social Services Committee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/roxanne-j-persaud/senator-persaud-assigned-chair-social-services-committee|title=Senator Persaud Is Assigned Chair of Social Services Committee|date=2018-12-11|website=NY State Senate|language=en|access-date=2019-01-30}}