Ritchie Torres
| Ritchie Torres | |
|---|---|
|
Torres in 2015 | |
| Member of the New York City Council from the 15th District | |
|
Assumed office January 1, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Joel Rivera |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
March 12, 1988 New York City, New York |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Website | Official website |
Ritchie Torres (born March 12, 1988) is the Council member for the 15th District of the New York City Council. He is a Democrat. The district includes Allerton, Belmont, Bronx Park, Claremont Village, Crotona Park, Fordham, Mount Eden, Mount Hope, Norwood, Parkchester, Tremont, Van Nest, West Farms and Williamsbridge in The Bronx.[1]
Torres is the first openly gay candidate to be elected to legislative office in The Bronx, and the youngest member of the city council. Currently, he serves as the chair of the Committee on Public Housing, and is a deputy Majority Leader.
Life and career
Torres was raised by his mother in a public housing project in the Throggs Neck neighborhood of the East Bronx, where he was frequently hospitalized for asthma as a result of the mold growing in his apartment.[2] He attended Herbert H. Lehman High School, served in the inaugural class of the Coro New York Exploring Leadership Program, and later worked as an intern in the offices of the Mayor and Attorney General.[1][3]
Torres enrolled at New York University but dropped out at the beginning of his sophomore year, suffering from severe depression.[3] As he recovered, Torres resumed working for council member James Vacca, eventually becoming Vacca's housing director.[3] In that role, Torres conducted site inspections and document conditions, ensuring critical housing issues were promptly and adequately addressed.[1][4]
New York City Council
When he won the Democratic Party nomination for New York City Council, Torres became the first openly gay political candidate in The Bronx to win the Democratic Party nomination, and is the first openly gay public official in The Bronx.[5][6]
Upon his election, Torres requested the chairmanship of the Council's Committee on Public Housing, tasked with overseeing the New York City Housing Authority.[3] Torres also serves as a Deputy Leader of the City Council, making him the only freshman Council Member to hold a leadership position.[1]
Torres has stated that he is "intent on advancing politically," and has been floated as a future candidate for Mayor.[7]
| Election history | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Year | Election | Results |
| NYC Council District 15 |
2013 | Democratic Primary | √ Ritchie Torres 36.12% Joel Rivera 21.39% Cynthia Thompkins 20.97% Albert Alvarez 8.99% Raquel E. Batista 7.42% Joel M. Bauza 5.11% |
| NYC Council District 15 |
2013 | General | √ Ritchie Torres (D) 91.15% Joel Rivera (R) 7.19% Joel M. Bauza (Conservative) 1.46% |
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Biography". council.ny.gov. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
- ↑ Ross, Winston. "Ritchie Torres: Gay, Hispanic and Powerful". newsweek.com. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 Gonnerman, Jennifer. "FIghting for the Poor Under Trump". newyorker.com. The New Yorker. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
- ↑ "Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. endorses Ritchie Torres for City Council seat". NY Daily News. August 6, 2013. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
- ↑ "Riding Widespread Institutional Support, Torres and Cohen Breeze to Primary Wins". Norwood News. September 11, 2013. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
- ↑ "Ritchie Torres, Bronx City Council Race Frontrunner, Among 3 Openly Gay Candidates In Historic Election". Huffingtonpost.com. June 13, 2013. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
- ↑ Barkan, Ross. "Could This 27-Year-Old Councilman Be the Mayor of New York One Day?". observer.com. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
External links
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Joel Rivera |
New York City Council, 15th District 2014–present |
Incumbent |
