Outils :Vous avez un site web ? Un blog ?
 Technorati reactions rencontre |
| Eddie Pérez | |
 |
|
|
|
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2001 |
|
|
|
|
| Born | 1957 |
|---|---|
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Maria Perez |
| Alma mater | Capital Community-Technical College, Trinity College |
| Profession | community organizer |
| Signature |  |
Eduardo Alberto "Eddie" Perez (born 1957) is an American politician and the present Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut. Prior to entering politics, Perez worked as a community activist as he matured. 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. Perez turned himself in to state police, and has vowed not to step down as Hartford's mayor.
Contents |
Perez was born in Corozal, Puerto Rico to a Puerto Rican family who would later move to the United States in search of a better life for their children. Perez grew up in the North End of Hartford and quickly began to associate with the Ghetto Brothers, an organized crime syndicate which supported Puerto Rican nationalism and was especially involved with the then fledgling Puerto Rican Socialist Party.
In 1989, Trinity College appointed Perez as Director of Community Relations in order to establish better relations with the local community. Despite serving in this post for several years, Trinity is still viewed as having some of the worst town and gown relations in the nation. [1] In 1999, Perez became the President of the Southside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance, an organization sponsored by Trinity College and Hartford Hospital. The organization ultimately absorbed nearly a quarter of Trinity's endowment and over a hundred-million dollars from the Hospital in an urban renewal program.
Perez was elected as the first Latino mayor of Hartford in 2001. Under 2002 changes to the city charter, he became the Chief Executive Officer 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.[2]
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.[3]
On January 27, 2009, an arrest warrant was filed for Perez's arrest on bribery, fabricating evidence, and conspiracy to fabricate evidence.[4] 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.[4] 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.[5] His attorney alleged in fact, the state had failed to even prove probable cause for his arrest.[6]
His trial date has been postponed to November 2009.[7]
On September 2nd, 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."[8]
He was arraigned on September 8, 2009.[9]
He is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition[10], 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.
