January 23, 2007

DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS ELECTS ALVARADO MAJORITY WHIP

Contact: Betsy DeSoye, Director of Communications, (914) 995-3277

The Democrats on Westchester’s seventeen-member County Legislature last night unanimously selected County Legislator Jose Alvarado (D-I-WF, Yonkers) Majority Whip, effective immediately. Alvarado is the first Hispanic to be elected to a caucus leadership position on the Board. He currently chairs the Public Works, Transportation, Labor & Parks Committee and will continue in that position until a successor is chosen. Until he gives up his position as Committee Chair, his service as Majority Whip will be uncompensated.

Alvarado replaces Vito Pinto (D,I,WF-Eastchester) who was recently appointed as the Chair of the Board’s Legislation Committee.

Alvarado said he looks forward to advancing the work of the caucus as Majority Whip. In addition to contributing to developing the Board’s agenda, a caucus leader facilitates communication both within and outside of the caucus. “Good communication is critical to being an effective leader,”
Alvarado said. “I will work hard to build consensus among my fellow Democrats. In particular, I will help my colleagues get the information they need to make an informed decision on an issue and to talk openly and honestly about their positions.”

Legislator José Alvarado moved from his native Honduras to Yonkers in 1982. He was first elected to represent the 17th District of Southwest Yonkers in 2001, becoming the County’s first Hispanic legislator.

When he came to the United States, Alvarado knew little English and had a background of very little formal education. To support himself and to assist in the support of his mother and his five siblings, he worked at minimum wage jobs. He eventually earned a high school equivalency degree and went on to study business at Mercy College. At Mercy, he became an English tutor in the school’s bilingual program. This experience inspired Alvarado to pursue more community volunteer positions and ultimately, a career in public service.

Mr. Alvarado holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Mercy College and a master’s degree in Public Administration/Health Care. He and his wife Karla have two daughters. He is currently employed as the Special Advisor to the President of White Plains Hospital Center for Outreach to the Hispanic Community and for the promotion of the hospital and as an adjunct Political Science professor at Mercy College. Mr. Alvarado is involved in a variety of community organizations including CLUSTER, his parish, Iglesia San Andres, the Boy Scouts of America and the Yonkers-So.Broadway B.I.D.