Dave Mejias
Encyclopedia
David L. "Dave" Mejias is an American
politician
. He was the Democratic candidate for the New York State Senate sixth district seat, which is currently held by 34 year incumbent Kemp Hannon, until he dropped out of the race due to pending allegations. Mejias was later exonerated when all charges were dismissed http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/charges-against-mejias-quietly-dropped-1.2954477 Mejias was a member of the County Legislature of Nassau County, New York
, and ran as a Democratic
candidate for the United States House of Representatives
in 2006.
n who was arrested in 1961 for anti-Castro
activism and later fled to the United States upon being released. Dave Mejias was born, raised, and currently resides in Farmingdale, New York
. He graduated from SUNY Albany, where he was Vice President of the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. He earned his J.D. degree
from Fordham University School of Law
. He is the managing partner of Mejias, Milgrim & Alvarado, PC, a law firm specializing in personal Injury, matrimonial, and criminal law.
elected to that body. He was re-elected in 2005. In August 2006, the AFL-CIO
gave their endorsement to Mejias, over the incumbent Peter T. King
(R), whom they had endorsed in each election for the previous fourteen years, ever since King was first elected to Congress.
In his first two years in office, Mejias supported Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi and voted for budgets that, along with the state bailout of the County, resulted in no tax increases for residents and improved bond ratings for the County. Nassau County
now has an "A" bond rating for the first time in a decade.
. That seat is currently held by Republican
Peter King
(R-Seaford), chairman of House Committee on Homeland Security. Despite Newsday's backing, King defeated Mejias in the election 56-44 percent. Despite King's 12 point victory, Mejias gave King the toughest challenge since King's 1st election in 1992. King, who in previous elections didn't spend all that much, spent more than $2 million on the campaign, outspending Mejias by more than a 2-1 margin.
Mejias's campaign was centralized mostly on criticized King for his close link to President George W. Bush
. For example, King was quoted in stating "I thank God every night that he [Bush] is our president. You should do the same."
Mejias has also criticized King, who was the Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, over the Department of Homeland Security's $83 million reduction in funding for New York City.
In September 2006, King sent a letter to his constituents in which he attempted to link Mejias to men King called "radical" Muslim leaders on Long Island. The letter backfired when federal records showed that King himself accepted thousands of dollars more than Mejias in campaign contributions from the same donors.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was the Democratic candidate for the New York State Senate sixth district seat, which is currently held by 34 year incumbent Kemp Hannon, until he dropped out of the race due to pending allegations. Mejias was later exonerated when all charges were dismissed http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/charges-against-mejias-quietly-dropped-1.2954477 Mejias was a member of the County Legislature of Nassau County, New York
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
, and ran as a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 2006.
Background
Mejias's father, José, was a CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n who was arrested in 1961 for anti-Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
activism and later fled to the United States upon being released. Dave Mejias was born, raised, and currently resides in Farmingdale, New York
Farmingdale, New York
The Village of Farmingdale is an incorporated village on Long Island within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York in the United States...
. He graduated from SUNY Albany, where he was Vice President of the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. He earned his J.D. degree
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Fordham University School of Law
Fordham University School of Law
Fordham University School of Law is a part of Fordham University in the United States. The School is located in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City, and is one of eight ABA-approved law schools in that city.-Overview:According to the U.S. News & World Report, 1,516 J.D. students attend...
. He is the managing partner of Mejias, Milgrim & Alvarado, PC, a law firm specializing in personal Injury, matrimonial, and criminal law.
Political career
In 2003, Mejias was elected to the Nassau County Legislature, becoming the first LatinoLatino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
elected to that body. He was re-elected in 2005. In August 2006, the AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
gave their endorsement to Mejias, over the incumbent Peter T. King
Peter T. King
Peter T. "Pete" King is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party. King's central Long Island district includes parts of Nassau and Suffolk counties....
(R), whom they had endorsed in each election for the previous fourteen years, ever since King was first elected to Congress.
In his first two years in office, Mejias supported Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi and voted for budgets that, along with the state bailout of the County, resulted in no tax increases for residents and improved bond ratings for the County. Nassau County
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
now has an "A" bond rating for the first time in a decade.
2006 Congressional election
In the 2006 Congressional election, Mejias was the Democratic nominee to represent the Third Congressional District of New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. That seat is currently held by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Peter King
Peter T. King
Peter T. "Pete" King is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party. King's central Long Island district includes parts of Nassau and Suffolk counties....
(R-Seaford), chairman of House Committee on Homeland Security. Despite Newsday's backing, King defeated Mejias in the election 56-44 percent. Despite King's 12 point victory, Mejias gave King the toughest challenge since King's 1st election in 1992. King, who in previous elections didn't spend all that much, spent more than $2 million on the campaign, outspending Mejias by more than a 2-1 margin.
Mejias's campaign was centralized mostly on criticized King for his close link to President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. For example, King was quoted in stating "I thank God every night that he [Bush] is our president. You should do the same."
Mejias has also criticized King, who was the Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, over the Department of Homeland Security's $83 million reduction in funding for New York City.
In September 2006, King sent a letter to his constituents in which he attempted to link Mejias to men King called "radical" Muslim leaders on Long Island. The letter backfired when federal records showed that King himself accepted thousands of dollars more than Mejias in campaign contributions from the same donors.