Yesterday, Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat became the first Dominican to be elected president of the State Legislature’s Hispanic, Puerto Rican, and Afro-American Caucus. This caucus represents 41 state senators and assemblymen.

Espaillat agrees that his election represents the union of Afro-Americans and Hispanics in the legislature whose goal is to create a collaborative atmosphere in favor of its communities.

Espaillat’s candidacy was propelled by Assemblyman Jose Rivera, president of the Democratic Party of the Bronx, and Assemblyman Herman D. Ferrell, who presides over Manhattan’s Democratic Party.

In the voting, Epaillat won with 23 votes in favor and 13 against. He counted on the support of state senators Ruben Diaz and David Paterson, and assemblymen Ruben Diaz (son), and Jose Peralta, among others.

According to Assemblyman Jose Rivera, this committee is the only one in the nation with members of both ethnic groups (Afro-Americans and Hispanics).

The Caucus was created in 1966, when the ex-mayor of New York City, David Dinkins, was a member of the legislature.

Rivera, who also was president of the Caucus, emphasized the importance of unity, saying that in these moments of fiscal crisis, “it’s better to work together on behalf of our communities than to work independently.”