N. Nick Perry
Encyclopedia
Noah Nicholas "Nick" Perry (born August 1, 1950) is a Democratic
member of the New York State Assembly
. He currently represents District 58, which comprises East Flatbush, as well as portions of Canarsie
and Brownsville
, among other neighborhoods located in the borough of Brooklyn
. Perry serves as the Assistant Majority Leader of the New York State Assembly, and is First Vice Chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus.
in Jamaica
, Noah Nicholas Perry worked for Bustamante Industrial Trade Union before immigrating to the United States in 1971. The following year he volunteered for the United States Army
, from which he was honorably discharged at the rank of Specialist Five
in 1978 after having served as an active-duty serviceman for two years and inactive reserve for four years.
Perry graduated from Brooklyn College
with a B.A.
degree in political Science
. He later returned to Brooklyn College to study for an M.A.
in public policy and administration.
In 1988, Perry ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the New York State Assembly
's 43rd District, which covered East Flatbush and Crown Heights, where he lost to Clarence Norman Jr.
. In 1991, he ran unsuccessfully for the 45th district of the New York City Council
, where he lost to Lloyd Henry. Finally, in 1992, a new assembly district was added to serve the West Indians in East Flatbush and Flatlands. Perry would win the 58th District seat in the November 1992 election.
Since 2001, Perry has been the Vice-Chair of the Assembly Majority Conference. He also currently serves on the New York State Assembly Committees on Banks, Energy, Labor, Higher Education, Transportation, and Insurance. In the past he has served Chairman of the Assembly Subcommittee on Community Colleges, as well as Vice-Chairman of the Black and Puerto Rican Legislative Caucus.
In 2006, Assemblyman Perry declared his candidacy for the 11th Congressional District in New York State, which was being vacated by retiring Congressman Major Owens
, and for which four other Democratic Party candidates were contending. In May 2006 he withdrew from the congressional race, which was seen as potentially assisting the candidacy of City Councilwoman Yvette Clarke whose family also hails from the Caribbean
. Yvette Clarke went on to win the seat with Nick Perry's strong backing.
Perry ran uncontested in his 2008 and 2010 general election
s for State Assembly.
and Felix Ortiz
, a bill that would prohibit the use of all forms of salt
in the preparation and cooking of all restaurant food.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
. He currently represents District 58, which comprises East Flatbush, as well as portions of Canarsie
Canarsie, Brooklyn
Canarsie is a neighborhood in the southeastern portion of the borough of Brooklyn, in New York City, United States. The area is part of Brooklyn Community Board 18....
and Brownsville
Brownsville, Brooklyn
Brownsville is a residential neighborhood located in eastern Brooklyn, New York City.The total land area is one square mile, and the ZIP code for the neighborhood is 11212....
, among other neighborhoods located in the borough of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. Perry serves as the Assistant Majority Leader of the New York State Assembly, and is First Vice Chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus.
Early life and military service
Born and raised in Saint Andrew Parish, JamaicaSaint Andrew Parish, Jamaica
Saint Andrew is a parish, situated in the southeast of Jamaica in the county of Surrey. It lies north, west and east of Kingston, and stretches into the Blue Mountains and at the 2001 census had the highest population of all the parishes in Jamaica. The Right Excellent George William Gordon Saint...
in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, Noah Nicholas Perry worked for Bustamante Industrial Trade Union before immigrating to the United States in 1971. The following year he volunteered for the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, from which he was honorably discharged at the rank of Specialist Five
Specialist (rank)
Specialist is one of the four junior enlisted ranks in the U.S. Army, just above Private First Class and equivalent in pay grade to Corporal. Unlike Corporals, Specialists are not considered junior non-commissioned officers...
in 1978 after having served as an active-duty serviceman for two years and inactive reserve for four years.
Perry graduated from Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. He later returned to Brooklyn College to study for an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in public policy and administration.
Political career
In 1983, Perry was appointed as a member of Community Board 17-he would ultimately become chairman of that board-and the following year he ran as a candidate for District Leader in the 42nd Assembly District. He would later serve as a member of the Executive Board of the 67th Police Precinct and as a director of Flatbush East Community Development Corporation.In 1988, Perry ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
's 43rd District, which covered East Flatbush and Crown Heights, where he lost to Clarence Norman Jr.
Clarence Norman Jr.
Clarence Norman, Jr. is an American politician from the state of New York. He was the former chairman of the Kings County Democratic Party and member of the New York State Assembly from the 43rd Assembly District in Central Brooklyn, which includes Crown Heights and parts of Flatbush and Prospect...
. In 1991, he ran unsuccessfully for the 45th district of the New York City Council
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
, where he lost to Lloyd Henry. Finally, in 1992, a new assembly district was added to serve the West Indians in East Flatbush and Flatlands. Perry would win the 58th District seat in the November 1992 election.
Since 2001, Perry has been the Vice-Chair of the Assembly Majority Conference. He also currently serves on the New York State Assembly Committees on Banks, Energy, Labor, Higher Education, Transportation, and Insurance. In the past he has served Chairman of the Assembly Subcommittee on Community Colleges, as well as Vice-Chairman of the Black and Puerto Rican Legislative Caucus.
In 2006, Assemblyman Perry declared his candidacy for the 11th Congressional District in New York State, which was being vacated by retiring Congressman Major Owens
Major Owens
Major Robert Odell Owens is a New York politician and a prominent member of the Democratic Party. He is also a former Congressman, having represented the state's 11th Congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. He retired at the end of his term in January 2007 and was...
, and for which four other Democratic Party candidates were contending. In May 2006 he withdrew from the congressional race, which was seen as potentially assisting the candidacy of City Councilwoman Yvette Clarke whose family also hails from the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
. Yvette Clarke went on to win the seat with Nick Perry's strong backing.
Perry ran uncontested in his 2008 and 2010 general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
s for State Assembly.
Legislation
In March 2010, Perry co-sponsored, along with assembly members Margaret MarkeyMargaret Markey
Margaret M. "Marge" Markey is an American politician who represents District 30 in the New York State Assembly, which is made up of Maspeth and Woodside, as well as portions of Middle Village, Astoria, Sunnyside and Long Island City...
and Felix Ortiz
Felix Ortiz
Félix W. Ortiz is an American politician, currently representing New York's 51st Assembly District. He is a Democrat.-Early life:...
, a bill that would prohibit the use of all forms of salt
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
in the preparation and cooking of all restaurant food.
External links
- Assemblyman N. Nick Perry (D) New York Assembly website.
- Yassky Strategy Criticism of David Yassky by his former primary opponent.
- House Candidate Withdraws, Afraid of Splitting Black Vote
- Councilman Wants to Fine ‘Dollar Van’ Riders