Peter Rivera (b. 1946) represents District 76 in the New York State Assembly, which is comprised of Fordham, West Farms, Van Nest, Castle Hill and Parkchester. Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, he holds a degree in Business Administration from Pace College, 1968, and a J.D. from St. John's Law School, 1974. The following year he was admitted to the Bar. Beginning his career as a patrolman and detective with the NYPD in the South Bronx, Rivera then became an agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration. After graduating from law school he began to work as an Assistant District Attorney in the Homocide Bureau of the Bronx District Attorney's Office. He has been in private law practice since 1978. First elected to the Assembly in 1992, Rivera is the current Chairman of the New York Assembly's Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task force and Assembly Committee on Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Developmental Disabilities. He remains the highest-ranking self-described Latino officeholder within the State Assembly.
