Peter Rivera | |
|---|---|
| Commissioner of the New York State Department of Labor | |
| In office July 1, 2012 – December 31, 2014 | |
| Governor | Andrew Cuomo |
| Preceded by | Colleen Gardner |
| Succeeded by | Roberta Reardon |
| Member of theNew York State Assembly from the 76th district | |
| In office January 1, 1993 – June 30, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Aurelia Greene |
| Succeeded by | Micah Kellner |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1946-11-12)November 12, 1946 (age 78) Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Alma mater | Pace University (BBA) St. John's University School of Law (JD) |
Peter Rivera (born November 12, 1946) is an American politician who represented District 76 in theNew York State Assembly, which comprisesWest Farms,Van Nest,Castle Hill andParkchester. He later served as theNew York State Commissioner of Labor.[1]
Born inPonce, Puerto Rico, Rivera earned a degree in business administration fromPace University in 1968, and a J.D. fromSt. John's University School of Law in 1974. The following year, he was admitted to theNew York State Bar Association.[2]
Rivera began his career as a patrolman and detective with theNew York Police Department in theSouth Bronx. Rivera then became an agent with theDrug Enforcement Administration. After graduating from law school, he began to work as an assistantdistrict attorney in the Homicide Bureau of theBronx County District Attorney's Office. He has been in private law practice since 1978.
First elected to the Assembly in 1992, Rivera was the Chairman of the New York Assembly's Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task force and Assembly Committee on Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Developmental Disabilities. He was the highest-ranking self-described Latino officeholder within the State Assembly.[3]
In the summer of 2010,The New York Times reported that Rivera would face a Democratic primary election challenge from Bronx lawyerLuis R. Sepúlveda.[4] Rivera went on to defeat Sepulveda in the 2010 primary.[5]
Rivera resigned from his assembly seat in 2012 to take the position ofNew York State Commissioner of Labor.[3]
| New York State Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | New York State Assembly 76th District 1993–2012 | Succeeded by |