Pedro Espada Jr. (born October 20, 1953) is an American former politician and convicted felon from the state of New York. A Democrat, Espada served in the New York State Senate from 1993 to 1996, from 2001 to 2002, and again from 2009 to 2011.
Espada was at the center of a June 2009 power struggle in the State Senate. He was one of two Democratic senators who voted to appoint Republican Dean Skelos as Majority Leader. After his return to the Democratic caucus on July 9, 2009, Espada was chosen as Senate Majority Leader; he is the first Hispanic to have held that post. Dogged by scandals, he was defeated by Gustavo Rivera in a September 2010 primary election.
On December 14, 2010, Espada was indicted on six federal counts of embezzlement and theft; he was stripped of his leadership position in the State Senate the same day and left office in January 2011. Espada was convicted on federal corruption charges in May 2012 and was sentenced to five years in prison.
Early life and career Espada was born in Coamo, Puerto Rico in 1953 and moved with his family to New York City at the age of five.Rauh, Grace. "Bronx's Espada To Be Top Hispanic State Official", NY1, June 6, 2008. Accessed June 9, 2009. His family settled in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx, where he attended the New York City Public Schools. He attended Fordham University, and graduated in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Espada subsequently took graduate level coursework at the Hunter College School of Social Work, received graduate training certificates from open enrollment programs at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and from the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, and received certification in 1990 from the Real Estate Institute at NYU's School of Continuing and Professional Studies.Pedro Espada Jr.'s Biography, New York State Senate. Accessed June 8, 2009.
In the late 1970s, Espada was a community organizer and educator in Harlem and the Lower East Side in Manhattan, and in the South Bronx. He established and served as president of the Comprehensive Community Development Corporation and was the executive director of the Soundview Health Center.
Espada had become head of the tenant's association at Stevenson Commons and led the effort in 1978 to open what became the Soundview Health Center after the city's economic problems led to a decision to not establish a promised clinic in the complex. The empty building that was to have been the clinic was leased by the group and $50,000 in federal grants was obtained, with the first patient taken in October 1981. By 1992, Soundview was offering medical and preventive care to 45,000 patients annually, and was also running a computer literacy program, serving lunch to hundreds of seniors daily and distributing surplus food. The New York Times noted that the health center featured Espada's name and image throughout the facility, describing it as having "elements of a cult of personality"; Espada explained, "the community has to know you" so that "in the end, they will trust you".Martin, Douglas. "About New York — A Waiting Room, Happy Patients and the Future", The New York Times, February 22, 1992. Accessed June 9, 2009.
Political career In 1988, Espada ran in the Democratic primary for the nomination in , which at the time covered the largely Hispanic and African American heart of the South Bronx, against incumbent Robert García."Seven House Primaries Among Most Visible Races in New York Region", The New York Times, September 6, 1988. Accessed June 9, 2009. Espada, mounting a challenge in what would normally be a safe seat for renomination, made an issue of García's involvement in the Wedtech scandal, which resulted in the loss of 1,500 jobs in the economically challenged district.Lynn, Frank. "Primaries for House Combine Issues and Infighting", The New York Times, September 6, 1988. Accessed June 9, 2009. In the primary, Espada was endorsed by The New York Times, which called him "articulate, focused and knowledgeable about health and poverty" based on his experience with the Soundview Health Center. The Times encouraged voters to "send a powerful message by supporting candidates who have been neither burned nor singed"."For Congress From New York", The New York Times, September 11, 1988. Accessed June 9, 2009. Espada was also endorsed by El Diario and The Amsterdam News, but received few endorsements from political figures.Verhovek, Sam Howe. "Garcia Is Battling Energetic Rival in Bronx", The New York Times, September 13, 1988. Accessed June 9, 2009. García won renomination with 60 percent of the vote to Espada's 27 percent."Primary Election Results", The New York Times, September 17, 1988. Accessed June 9, 2009.
Espada was elected to represent the 32nd Senate district in the Bronx. He represented that district from 1993 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2002.
In July 1996, the New York Observer reported that Espada did not live in the district he represented.Poverty Profiteer? State Sen. Espada Hits Up New York, New York Observer, July, 1996.
Also in 1996, Espada was indicted for using $70,000 from a city-financed HMO to fund his unsuccessful reelection campaign.Calderone, Joe. "Fine Stew of Politics, Secret Tapes & Money", New York Daily News, June 12, 1998. Accessed June 10, 2009.
When Espada's son, Pedro Gautier Espada, was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1996, the two became the first father and son in the New York State Legislature to represent different districts in the Bronx.
In the 1996 primary, the Bronx Democratic Party ran a candidate against Espada and successfully challenged his petitions in court.Jonathan Hicks. "Bronx Feud Leads to Rare November Ballot Battle", The New York Times, November 3, 1996. Accessed July 24, 2010. Espada ran on the Liberal Party line, and lost to David Rosado, 78% to 21%.Jonathan Hicks. "Results of Voting in New York Races", The New York Times, November 7, 1996. Accessed July 24, 2010. In their 2000 rematch, Espada wrested the Democratic nomination from Rosado, who was forced to defend his seat in the Senate on the Liberal and Working Families Party lines. Espada, having the Democratic line, won the election handily.New York State Board of Elections. "2000 Election Results: New York State Senate" . Accessed July 24, 2010.
In 2000, Espada was acquitted on charges of using $200,000 from a Soundview Health Management Organization to pay off campaign debts from 1996. He was found not guilty by arguing that the HMO was allowed to do as it wished with federal money. Four employees were found guilty of using taxpayer funds to help the campaigns of Espada and his son.Gearty, Robert; and Ross, Barbara. "Daily News Finds 2 Bronx Lawmakers Have Cozy Ties to Nonprofit Organizations", New York Daily News, May 10, 2009. Accessed June 10, 2009.
In 2001, Espada ran for Bronx Borough President, but was defeated by Adolfo Carrion Jr. in the Democratic primary election. Carrion received 48,913 votes, Espada received 44,124 votes, and June Margolin Eislan received 26,815 votes.2001 PRIMARY ELECTION, STATEMENT AND RETURN OF THE VOTES FOR THE OFFICE OF BOROUGH PRESIDENT, BOROUGH OF BRONX, DEMOCRATIC PARTY , New York City Board of Elections.
The State of New York pulled funding for some of Espada's nonprofits in 2002 due to "administrative deficiencies and apparent misuse of funds."Egbert, Bill. "Espada Loses State Funding for Clinics", New York Daily News, January 30, 2003. Accessed June 10, 2009.
In 2002, Espada was defeated in a Democratic primary for his Senate seat. Incumbent City Councilmember Rubén Díaz Sr. won that primary by 97 votes. Espada sought a new primary in court, but was denied.Jonathan Hicks, "Assemblywoman Wins in Bronx in Second Democratic Primary," The New York Times, October 17, 2002, p. B6 He then ran unsuccessfully for his old seat on the Republican and Independence lines while remaining registered as a Democrat.
Espada was elected to the Senate in 2008 in the 33rd district, defeating incumbent Democrat Efrain Gonzalez. The 33rd district was located in the Northwest Bronx, including the neighborhoods of Bedford Park, Fordham, Norwood, and Kingsbridge Heights. At that time, he owed in excess of $60,000 in fines to the New York City Campaign Finance Board related to races as far back as his 2001 run for Bronx Borough President. The campaign for his 2008 State Senate run had not registered with the New York State Board of Elections and fines were assessed against Espada's 2000 Senate campaign for required reports that had not been filed. Espada acknowledged that mistakes had been made but insisted that some of the accusations were unfair.Hakim, Danny. "State Senator-Elect Owes Thousands in Fines", The New York Times, December 5, 2008. Accessed June 10, 2009.
Espada voted in favor of same-sex marriage legislation on December 2, 2009, but the bill was defeated.
June 2009 leadership crisis
Though there were 32 Democrats and 30 Republicans in the Senate, on June 8, 2009, Espada and Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens) were part of what was described by the Associated Press as a "parliamentary coup" and voted with the 30 Republican members to install Senator Dean Skelos (R-Nassau) as the new majority leader of the Senate, replacing Senator Malcolm Smith (D-Queens).Gormley, Michael. "GOP, 2 Dems Flip Power Balance in NY Senate", The Washington Post, June 8, 2009. Accessed June 8, 2009.Odato, James. "Two Democrats join Republicans to topple Smith as Senate leader", Times Union (Albany), June 8, 2009. Accessed June 8, 2009. In a press release posted to his Senate web page, Espada emphasized that "I remain a staunch, reform Democrat. I have not switched parties," and that his actions were intended to help end the "gridlock, paralysis, secretiveness, threats and partisan politics" that the Senate had experienced in the previous months and that he was not part of "a power grab or a coup" but was working to build a coalition to serve the needs of all New Yorkers with open and transparent government.Statement by Senator Pedro Espada Jr., Office of Senator Pedro Espada Jr., June 8, 2009. Accessed June 8, 2009. When asked whether he held an allegiance to the Democratic Party, Espada responded that he owed nothing to a political party that had spent "hundreds of thousands" to defeat him in past elections.Wayne Barrett. "Did Paterson Really Call And Congratulate Espada On His Coup?", Village Voice, June 11, 2009. Accessed June 15, 2009.
The switch was preceded by several weeks of private talks brokered by upstate billionaire Tom Golisano."GOP Coup in Albany", New York Daily News, 8 June 2009. Accessed June 9, 2009.
In the early evening of July 9, 2009, Espada switched his allegiance back with the Democratic Party, and was then selected the Senate Majority Leader of the New York State Senate."Espada Returns To Democratic Party, Senate Gets Back To Work" . NY1 News. July 9, 2009. He is the first Hispanic to have held that post.
2009–2010 investigations and legal difficulties Espada claimed a co-op apartment in Bedford Park as his district residence. Several residents of the Bronx co-op said they never saw him there. The Bronx County District Attorney opened an investigation in 2009.Salonstall, David. Sen. Pedro Espada Hounded by Questions on Ethics and Residenc. New York Daily News, June 10, 2009. Accessed June 10, 2009.
In 2009, New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo investigated Espada's use of the Soundview Health Clinic for personal political reasons. Clinic offices also advertised Espada's name on the front canopy, displayed campaign posters on clinic grounds, and displayed posters of Espada surrounded by smiling children.