Alex Blanco Explained

Alex Blanco
Order:Mayor of Passaic, New Jersey
Term Start:November 2008
Term End:November 2016
Predecessor:Gary Schaer (as Acting Mayor)
Successor:Hector Lora
Order2:Member of the Passaic School Board
Birth Place:Dominican Republic
Party:Democratic Party
Spouse:Aurora Blanco
Alma Mater:Kean University
New York College of Podiatric Medicine
Profession:Mayor, Passaic, New Jersey

Alex Blanco (born 1972) is an American politician, who served as mayor of Passaic, New Jersey. A member of the Democratic Party, Blanco was the first elected and second serving Dominican-American mayor in the United States.[1] [2]

Biography

Alex Blanco was born in the Dominican Republic in 1972. In 1984, when Alex was 12 years old, he emigrated from La Vega Province to Passaic, New Jersey, with his mother, stepfather, and two siblings. Two of his siblings have recently moved with him as well.[3] Blanco's family struggled financially and received foodstamps for a time during Alex's childhood. He was paid by the Passaic School Board for taking the SAT's. Blanco graduated from Kean University and New York College of Podiatric Medicine.

Blanco was first elected in November 2008 in a special election to complete the unexpired term of former Mayor Samuel Rivera, who resigned after pleading guilty to attempted extortion. He received around twenty eight percent of the 13,769 votes.

In April 2009, Blanco announced he was running for a full-term, and was endorsed by Senator Bob Menendez. He won a full four-year term in the May election, defeating city supervisor Vincent Capuana. Blanco was sworn on July 1, 2009, when he began serving his four-year term.

Blanco was described as the "classic American success story" by Gary Schaer, whom Blanco replaced as acting mayor in the 2008 special election.

Bribery case and resignation

In November 2016, Blanco pled guilty to a single federal count of bribery, agreeing to resign immediately. Blanco admitted in court to accepting $110,000 in bribes from two unnamed housing developers in exchange for directing more than $200,000 in HUD funds to a failed low-income housing development. He faced up to 10 years in federal prison upon sentencing, scheduled for February 2017. He was succeeded by Passaic County Freeholder Hector Lora, in an appointment made by the City Council.

Blanco is the second consecutive elected mayor of Passaic, and the third in two decades (following Joseph Lipari and Sammy Rivera), to be convicted of or plead guilty to official misconduct charges.[4] [5]

Notes and References

  1. being convicted of federal bribery charges in 2016.
  2. News: Corzine to swear-in Blanco tomorrow with Menendez also in attendance . Pizarro, Max . . June 30, 2009 . November 3, 2009.
  3. Web site: Dr. Alex Blanco: 1st Dominican-American Mayor in U.S.. November 12, 2008 . November 3, 2009.
  4. Web site: Ex-Passaic mayor faces sentencing for taking $110K in bribes. NJ.com. November 20, 2017.
  5. Web site: Ex-Passaic Mayor Alex Blanco gets 2 years in prison in bribery scheme. As of 2018 Alex Blanco, Blanco has pleaded guilty to all charges against him.. NJ.com. November 20, 2017.