NALEO Honors New York State Assemblyman Peter Rivera

Legislator receives organization's prestigious award for outstanding public service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) this evening honors New York Assemblyman Peter Rivera with the prestigious Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service, presented during the Edward R. Roybal Legacy Gala at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in our nation's capital.

The Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service was established by NALEO as a tribute to the organization's founder, the late U.S. Rep. Edward R. Roybal , who was elected in 1962 as the first Latino congressman from California since 1879. This award recognizes current or former elected or appointed officials who have distinguished themselves in public office.

Assemblyman Rivera's public service mirrors that of our founder.  The New York legislator has had a leadership role advancing mental health programs and AIDS funding, and improving services for the elderly and disenfranchised communities.  

Elected to the New York State Assembly in 1992, Peter Rivera represents portions of New York City's Bronx borough, and serves as the Assembly's Speaker Pro Tempore. A native of Ponce, Puerto Rico, Assemblyman Rivera is a former prosecutor, NYPD detective and DEA agent, and is a graduate of Pace College and the St. John's University Law School.

"Among his many professional and public service accomplishments, we honor Assemblyman Rivera today for his committed efforts to help advance the community," said NALEO President Sylvia R. Garcia . "His tireless efforts to help a new generation of leaders is in the same spirit of public service as the Honorable Edward R. Roybal, who continues to inspire public officials across the country to press toward building a strong future for our constituents and communities."  

The 2011 Chair for the Edward R. Roybal Legacy Gala is Southwest Airlines and the Vice-Chair is Toyota.

About NALEO

The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials is the leadership organization of the nation's more than 6,000 Latino elected and appointed officials.

CONTACT: Patricia Guadalupe , (202) 546.2536, pguadalupe@naleo.org

SOURCE National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO)