Governor Andrew Cuomo this week will name Cesar Perales to be the next Secretary of State for New York. Less then 24 hours before the 2011 Legislative Conference of the New York State Assembly Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force.
Perales is the former Commissioner for the NYS Dept of Social Services under his
father and recent President of Latino Justice/Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education
Fund. He is well respected in the Latino community in New York and across the nation.
His daughter is director of litigation for MALDEF (Mexican-American Legal Defense
and Education Fund) working in the Southwest.
He was born November 12, 1940, in New York City and is a civil rights attorney and
co-founder of the nonprofit Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund.
Perales has a strong record of advocating for social and economic justice issues.
However, it is unclear what power the position brings based on the history of the
position of Secretary of State and its recent office holders. The position was considered
a stepping stone to higher office or state-wide office, but Perales is now in his
70’s.
With no Hispanic holding a state-wide or New York City wide elected office and with
Census data showing Hispanic growth is substantial in 60 of 62 counties in the State,
the appointment makes two the number of Hispanic appointed as heads of state agencies
by Andrew Cuomo. Three weeks ago, the Senate confirmed Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez as
Commissioner of the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.
Latino News Service
Note: The following information was received from a reliable source, but is not
officially confirmed and has not hit the mainstream media as of yet.
—Angelo Falcón