Eddie Pérez (politician)
Encyclopedia
Eduardo Alberto "Eddie" Perez (born 1957) is a politician of Puerto Rican
origin and former Mayor
of Hartford
, Connecticut
. Prior to entering politics, Perez worked as a community activist
. In 2007, Perez was brought before a grand jury
to investigate charges of corruption
, which resulted in the January 29, 2009, filing of a warrant for Perez's arrest on bribery, fabricating evidence, and conspiracy to fabricate evidence. On June 18, 2010, he was found guilty by a jury on 5 of 6 charges and he immediately resigned as mayor. On September 14, 2010, he was sentenced to eight years, suspended after three years, with three years in prison, to be followed by three years of probation.
to a Puerto Rican
family who would later move to the United States
. Perez grew up in the North End of Hartford and was associated with the Ghetto Brothers
, an organized crime syndicate.
In 1989, Trinity College
appointed Perez as Director of Community Relations. In 1999, Perez became the President of the Southside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance, an organization sponsored by Trinity College and Hartford Hospital
.
of the City of Hartford. He was re-elected in 2003. Since his tenure as mayor Perez has come under fire for alleged corruption, reported and uncovered by The Hartford Courant
and reporters Daniel E. Goren and Jeffrey B. Cohen. However, he was endorsed by the Courant editorial board for re-election in 2007 and beat multiple opponents to win a primary and general election.
In summer 2007, Perez announced that his home had been searched by investigators probing work done on his home by a contractor who had received city business.
On January 27, 2009, an arrest warrant was filed for Perez's arrest on bribery, fabricating evidence, and conspiracy to fabricate evidence. The warrant, which credited The Hartford Courant for prompting the investigation, alleged that Perez had work done on his home by city contractor Carlos Costa, who was also arrested. Perez turned himself in to state police, stating that he had a lapse in judgment but did nothing illegal, and vowed that he would not step down as Hartford's mayor. His attorney alleged that the state had failed to even prove probable cause for his arrest.
His trial date was postponed to November 2009.
On September 2, 2009, Perez was arrested again on unrelated extortion charges stemming from a no-bid parking lot deal. He has vowed that he is innocent yet again and "will fight for the facts to come out, because the truth is on my side."
He was arraigned on September 8, 2009 and convicted on June 18, 2010 On the same day, he officially announced his resignation.
Even after his conviction by a jury on five of six felony charges, Perez claimed that he was innocent and vowed to appeal the conviction.
, a bi-partisan anti-gun group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston
Mayor Thomas Menino
and New York City
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
. After his conviction, his membership status in the organization is not clear. As of September 14, 2010, there has been no announcement of his resignation from Mayors Against Illegal Guns. His successor as mayor, Pedro Segarra
, is now listed as a member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
origin and former Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. Prior to entering politics, Perez worked as a community activist
Community service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
. In 2007, Perez was brought before a grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
to investigate charges of corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
, which resulted in the January 29, 2009, filing of a warrant for Perez's arrest on bribery, fabricating evidence, and conspiracy to fabricate evidence. On June 18, 2010, he was found guilty by a jury on 5 of 6 charges and he immediately resigned as mayor. On September 14, 2010, he was sentenced to eight years, suspended after three years, with three years in prison, to be followed by three years of probation.
Youth and early career
Perez was born in Corozal, Puerto RicoCorozal, Puerto Rico
Corozal is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central-eastern region, north of Orocovis and Barranquitas; south Vega Alta; southwest of Toa Alta; east of Morovis and Orocovis; and west of Naranjito. Corozal is spread over 12 wards and Corozal Pueblo...
to a Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
family who would later move to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Perez grew up in the North End of Hartford and was associated with the Ghetto Brothers
Ghetto Brothers
The Ghetto Brothers were a gang and music group founded in New York City's South Bronx in the late 1960s. The gang eventually spread to much of the Northeastern United States...
, an organized crime syndicate.
In 1989, Trinity College
Trinity College (Connecticut)
Trinity College is a private, liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1823, it is the second-oldest college in the state of Connecticut after Yale University. The college enrolls 2,300 students and has been coeducational since 1969. Trinity offers 38 majors and 26 minors, and has...
appointed Perez as Director of Community Relations. In 1999, Perez became the President of the Southside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance, an organization sponsored by Trinity College and Hartford Hospital
Hartford Hospital
Hartford Hospital is an acute care hospital located in the South End of Hartford, Connecticut. The hospital was formed in 1854 after the State of Connecticut granted a charter for the Formation of Hartford Hospital following a boiler explosion and resulting fire at the Fales and Grey Car Works...
.
Term as mayor and felony conviction
Perez, a Democrat, was elected as the first Latino mayor of Hartford in 2001. Under 2002 changes to the city charter, he became the Chief Executive OfficerChief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the City of Hartford. He was re-elected in 2003. Since his tenure as mayor Perez has come under fire for alleged corruption, reported and uncovered by The Hartford Courant
The Hartford Courant
The Hartford Courant is the largest daily newspaper in the U.S. state of Connecticut, and is a morning newspaper for most of the state north of New Haven and east of Waterbury...
and reporters Daniel E. Goren and Jeffrey B. Cohen. However, he was endorsed by the Courant editorial board for re-election in 2007 and beat multiple opponents to win a primary and general election.
In summer 2007, Perez announced that his home had been searched by investigators probing work done on his home by a contractor who had received city business.
On January 27, 2009, an arrest warrant was filed for Perez's arrest on bribery, fabricating evidence, and conspiracy to fabricate evidence. The warrant, which credited The Hartford Courant for prompting the investigation, alleged that Perez had work done on his home by city contractor Carlos Costa, who was also arrested. Perez turned himself in to state police, stating that he had a lapse in judgment but did nothing illegal, and vowed that he would not step down as Hartford's mayor. His attorney alleged that the state had failed to even prove probable cause for his arrest.
His trial date was postponed to November 2009.
On September 2, 2009, Perez was arrested again on unrelated extortion charges stemming from a no-bid parking lot deal. He has vowed that he is innocent yet again and "will fight for the facts to come out, because the truth is on my side."
He was arraigned on September 8, 2009 and convicted on June 18, 2010 On the same day, he officially announced his resignation.
Even after his conviction by a jury on five of six felony charges, Perez claimed that he was innocent and vowed to appeal the conviction.
Felony prison sentencing
Perez faced a maximum sentence of 55 years. A news story described his sentencing on September 14, 2010: "As he faced the judge, Perez asked her for mercy in the sentencing. The judge told Perez that no one can ignore the jury's verdict and that Perez is responsible for his actions." He was sentenced to eight years, suspended after three years, with three years in prison, to be followed by three years of probation.Affiliations
Perez was listed as a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns CoalitionMayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition
Mayors Against Illegal Guns is a coalition of over 600 mayors who support a number of gun control initiatives that the group calls "commonsense reforms" to fight illegal gun trafficking and gun violence in the United States...
, a bi-partisan anti-gun group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
Mayor Thomas Menino
Thomas Menino
Thomas Michael "Tom" Menino is the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, United States and the city's first Italian-American mayor...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
. After his conviction, his membership status in the organization is not clear. As of September 14, 2010, there has been no announcement of his resignation from Mayors Against Illegal Guns. His successor as mayor, Pedro Segarra
Pedro Segarra
Pedro E. Segarra is an American politician of Puerto Rican origin and Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut. Prior to becoming mayor, Segarra was president of Hartford's City Council. He succeeded former Mayor Eddie Perez who resigned in disgrace after he was convicted by a state Superior Court jury of...
, is now listed as a member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns.