Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn | |
|---|---|
_NYS_Assemblymember_Rodneyse_Bichotte_Hermelyn_(cropped).jpg) | |
| Chair of theBrooklyn Democratic Party | |
| Assumed office January 20, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Seddio |
| Member of theNew York State Assembly from the42nd district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Rhoda S. Jacobs |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rodneyse Bichotte (1972-12-02)December 2, 1972 (age 52) New York City,New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Education | Buffalo State College (BS) University at Buffalo (BS) Illinois Institute of Technology (MS) Northwestern University (MBA) Brooklyn Law School (JD) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | Assembly website |
Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn (born December 2, 1972) is an American politician who serves as the Assembly Member for the 42nd District of theNew York State Assembly. She is aDemocrat. The district includes portions ofEast Flatbush,Flatbush,Ditmas Park, andMidwood, inBrooklyn.
Bichotte Hermelyn was the first Haitian-American to be elected to theState Legislature from New York City,[1] as well as Chair of theKings County Democratic Committee.[2]
Bichotte Hermelyn was born and raised inBrooklyn, New York toHaitian immigrants,[3] and attended public schools, graduating fromLaGuardia High School.[4] She has a B.S. in electrical engineering fromSUNY Buffalo, a B.S. in mathematics in secondary education and a B.T. in electrical engineering fromBuffalo State College, an M.B.A fromNorthwestern University, and an M.S. from theIllinois Institute of Technology.[5][6] She is also an alumna ofthe White House Project, a leadership program created byBrooklyn College[when?].[7] In 2024, she graduated fromBrooklyn Law School and was elected to the school'sboard of trustees following her graduation.[8]
On January 1, 2020, she married BrooklynDistrict Leader Edu Hermelyn.[9]
Prior to public service, Bichotte Hermelyn worked as an engineer atLucent Technologies, as aninvestment banker atBank of America andJPMorgan Chase, and as amath teacher in theNew York City public school system.[10] She is known as an avid traveler, and has traveled to seven countries on the continent ofAfrica, as well as several countries inAsia,Europe,Latin America and theMiddle East, includingIsrael.[11]
Bichotte Hermelyn serves as aDemocratic District Leader for her district in Brooklyn.[12]
In 2012, Bichotte Hermelyn opted to take on longtime AssemblywomanRhoda Jacobs, who despite fast-changing demographic shifts had won the 42nd District easily as a white, Jewish woman in an African-American, Caribbean community. Bichotte Hermelyn, who is ofHaitian descent, challenged Jacobs in the Democratic primary, but lost to the incumbent 67% to 32%.
The following cycle in 2014, Jacobs decided to retire, and Bichotte Hermelyn announced her campaign for the Assembly. In a four-way primary, Bichotte Hermelyn won the nomination with 48% of the vote. In the safely-Democratic seat, she went on to win the general election with over 90% of the vote.[13]
Bichotte Hermelyn was sworn into office on January 1, 2015, withNew York City MayorBill de Blasio administering the oath of office. In the Assembly, she serves as Chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight ofMinority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs).
In 2023, Bichotte Hermelyn was appointedMajority Whip for the Democratic Caucus of the New York State Assembly.[14]
In December 2020, GovernorAndrew Cuomo signed Assemblywoman Hermelyn's bill into a law calledJonah Bichotte Cowan's Law. This statewide law prevents hospital employees from turning away pregnant women with a history of health problems.[15]
In January 2020, Bichotte Hermelyn was chosen to succeedFrank Seddio asBrooklyn Democratic Party Chair, making her both the first woman and first African-American woman to lead a county party inNew York City.[16]
In August 2022, a closed-door meeting of the Brooklyn Democratic Party Executive Committee voted to consolidate power in her hands, where the Committee passed several rule changes meant to blunt the ability of the newly elected County Committee reformist bloc to enact democratizing reforms.[17]
