Background
He is the son of United States. Congressman José Serrano.
politician member of the New York State Senate
He is the son of United States. Congressman José Serrano.
Serrano graduated from Manhattan College with a Bachelor of Arts in Government, and went on to work for the New York Shakespeare Festival.
A lifelong South Bronx resident, Serrano was elected to the New York State Senate in November 2004. He defeated Republican Olga Mendez, a 26-year incumbent in the district. In 2001, Senator Serrano was elected to the New York City Council (District 17), representing Melrose, Mott Haven, Longwood, and Hunt’s Point.
He focused on issues relating to affordable housing, daycare for children of low-income families, and the environment.
He also chaired the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations. Serrano ran for the Senate in 2004.
According to the New York Times, which endorsed him, Serrano promised "to pursue unfinished and ignored business in the capital, including legislating an end to the Rockefeller drug laws." He would garner more than 80% of the vote in his victory over Olga Mendez. In Albany, Serrano has thus far stuck to the core issues on his progressive agenda: environmental protection.
Affordable housing and healthcare.
And promoting the arts as an economic engine. He was appointed Chair of the Senate Minority Task Force on the Arts and Cultural Affairs by Senate Minority Leader David Paterson. In January 2009 he was appointed Chairman of the Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation Committee, a renamed version of the Tourism Committee.
In September 2007, he was named one of City Hall"s "40 under 40" for being a young influential member of New York City politics. While in the minority, he served as Ranking Minority Member of the Tourism, Recreation and Sports Development Committee.
