Rafael "Ralph" Salamanca Jr. (born July 2, 1980) is the councilmember for the 17th district of the New York City Council. He is a Democrat. The district includes portions of Concourse Village, East Tremont, Hunts Point, Longwood, Melrose, Morrisania, Port Morris, and West Farms in The Bronx.
Ralph Salamanca | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the New York City Council from the 17th district | |
| Assumed office March 8, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Maria del Carmen Arroyo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 2, 1980 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Jessenia Aponte |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Monroe College (AA) |
| Website | Official website |
Life and career
editSalamanca was born and raised in The Bronx to parents from Puerto Rico.[1] His father worked the docks at the Hunts Point Market while his mother was an administrative worker in healthcare.[2] Salamanca did not finish high school, but did receive his high school diploma equivalency certificate and subsequently earned an associate degree from Monroe College.[3]
A lifelong resident of the South Bronx, Salamanca began his career working as an administrative assistant for a healthcare services provider, and later went on to organize surrounding healthcare issues in both The Bronx and Brooklyn, including in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, with future-New York City Councilmember Antonio Reynoso.[4]
Salamanca was a member of Bronx Community Board 2, where he would advocate for issues in the Hunts Point and Longwood neighborhoods.[5] He eventually became the District Manager for the board, and also served as the President of the 41st Precinct Council.[6] He gained citywide attention for his work as the Community Board Manager for shutting down strip clubs in the community that were havens for criminal activity.[7]
New York City Council
editIn 2015, Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo resigned from her seat on the City Council.[8] Salamanca entered the race for the special election to replace her and won a six-way Democratic primary election, with 39% of the vote. He was sworn into office on March 8, 2016.[9]
Salamanca ran again in November 2016 to finish Arroyo's term, won his first full term in 2017, and was re-elected in 2021. Salamanca explored but ultimately did not pursue a candidacy for Bronx Borough President in 2021.[10]
In the 2023 elections, Gonzalo Duran, Marine veteran attempted to primary Salamanca for the June elections but was successfully removed from the ballot after a challenge from the Bronx Democratic Party. Duran then switched to the Bronx County Conservative Party to challenge Salamanca in the general election in November. Salamanca won the election, securing his tenure for another two years until the 2025 elections.[11][12][13]
| Election history | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Year | Election | Results |
| NYC Council District 17 |
2016 | Nonpartisan | √ Rafael Salamanca 39.12% George Alvarez 24.25% Julio Pabon 15.11% J. Loren Russell 10.84% Joann Otero 7.13% Marlon Molina 3.09% |
| NYC Council District 17 |
2017 | Democratic Primary | √ Rafael Salamanca 72.17% Helen Hines 27.36% |
| NYC Council District 17 |
2017 | General | √ Rafael Salamanca (D) 92.26% Patrick Delices (R) 3.47% Oswald Denis (Conservative) 2.26% Elvis Santana (Empower Society) 1.81% |
Shooting
editIn September 2021, a stray bullet shattered Salamanca's office window while he was inside with constituents. No one was hurt in the incident.[14]
References
edit- ^ "Democrat Rafael Salamanca Announces Special Election Campaign for City Council District 17". 100%Bronx. 2016-01-05. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
- ^ "Rafael Salamanca announces City Council run". Hunts Point Express. 2016-01-05. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
- ^ "Rafael Salamanca wins NYC Council District 17 seat". AP. 2016-02-23. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
- ^ "DOT Proposes Roundabout for Dangerous Longwood Intersection". Streetsblog NYC. 2015-02-17. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
- ^ "Bronx Community Board 2 District Manager to Seek Arroyo's Old Council Seat". DNAinfo. 2016-01-05. Archived from the original on 2016-01-10. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
- ^ "Council candidates face off at public forum". Mott Haven Herald. 2016-01-28. Archived from the original on 2016-01-10. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
- ^ "Strip Clubs Are Being Wiped Out of the South Bronx". Vice. 2015-07-28. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
- ^ "Bronx councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo will resign". Politico. 2015-11-23. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
- ^ "Salamanca Wins Bronx Special Election for City Council Seat". DNAinfo. 2015-02-24. Archived from the original on 2016-03-23. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
- ^ Cohen, Jason (22 January 2021). "Salamanca drops out of BP race – Bronx Times". www.bxtimes.com. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
- ^ Sequeira, Robbie (January 19, 2023). "Former marine Gonzalo Duran to challenge Salamanca for City Council District 17 seat".
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Sequeira, Robbie (May 17, 2023). "Knocked out of Dem primary, CD17 challenger Gonzalo Duran pivots to Conservative Party ballot line".
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ CBS News (Nov 8, 2023). "Election Results 2023: New York City - City Council".
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "'We simply cannot keep going on like this': Bronx council member responds to in-office shooting". News 12 - The Bronx. September 14, 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
External links
edit- "District 17 - Council member". NYC.gov.