N. Nick Perry

Noah Nicholas "Nick" Perry (born August 1, 1950)^[1] 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 Speaker Pro Tempore of the New York State Assembly, and is the current Chair of the NYS Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus. Perry also serves as the Region 2 (NY and PA) Chair of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. He is previously served four years as the Chairman of the New York State Association of Black & Puerto Rican Legislators.

Early life and military service

Born and raised in Saint Andrew Parish in Jamaica, Noah Nicholas Perry graduated from Kingston College (high school) in Kingston, Jamaica, and worked at the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union before immigrating to the United States in 1971.^[2] 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.^[2]

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 1992, following the 1990 Census, a new assembly district was added in Brooklyn, located in East Flatbush. Assemblyman Perry would win the new 58th District seat in the November 1992 election.

Since 2001, Perry has been the Vice-Chair of the Assembly Majority Conference and Majority Whip. He currently serves on the New York State Assembly Committees on Ways & Means, Rules, Codes, Labor, Transportation and Banks.

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 Assemblyman Perry's strong backing.

Perry ran uncontested in his 2008, 2010 and 2012 general elections for State Assembly.^[3][4][5]

Personal life

He and his wife Joyce reside in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn. Perry's granddaughter is Roc Nation recording artist, Justine Skye.

References

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