N. Nick Perry
N. Nick Perry | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Ambassador to Jamaica | |
| Assumed office May 13, 2022 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Donald Tapia |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 58th district | |
| In office January 3, 1993 – March 30, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Elizabeth Connelly |
| Succeeded by | Monique Chandler-Waterman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Noah Nickolas Perry August 1, 1950 Saint Andrew Parish, Colony of Jamaica |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Joyce Perry |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Justine Skye (granddaughter) |
| Residence(s) | New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Brooklyn College (BA, MA) |
| Profession | Politician |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1972–1978 |
Noah Nickolas Perry (born August 1, 1950)[1] is an American politician and diplomat who has served as the United States ambassador to Jamaica since 2022. He served as a member of the New York State Assembly for the 58th district from 1993 to 2022. His former district included the neighborhood of East Flatbush, as well as portions of Canarsie and Brownsville, among other neighborhoods located in the borough of Brooklyn.
Early life and education
[edit]Born and raised in Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica, Noah Nickolas Perry graduated from Kingston College in Kingston, Jamaica. Perry graduated from Brooklyn College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He later returned to Brooklyn College to study for an Master of Arts in public policy and administration.[2]
Career
[edit]He worked at the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union before immigrating to the United States in 1971.[2] The following year he volunteered for the United States Army, from which he was honorably discharged at the rank of Specialist Five in 1978 after having served as an active-duty serviceman for two years and inactive reserve for four years.
Politics
[edit]In 1983, Perry was appointed as a member of Brooklyn Community Board 17. He later served as chairman of that board and the following year he ran as a candidate for District Leader in the 42nd Assembly District. He would later serve as a member of the Executive Board of the 67th Police Precinct and as a director of Flatbush East Community Development Corporation.
In 1992, following the 1990 Census, a new assembly district was added in Brooklyn, located in East Flatbush. Perry won new 58th district seat in the November 1992 election.
Since 2001, Perry has been the vice-chair of the Assembly Majority Conference and majority whip. He also serves on the New York State Assembly Committees on Ways & Means, Rules, Codes, Labor, Transportation and Banks.
In 2006, Perry declared his candidacy for New York's 11th congressional district, which was being vacated by retiring Congressman Major Owens. In May 2006, he withdrew from the congressional race and endorsed eventual leader Yvette Clarke.[3]
Perry ran uncontested in his 2008, 2010 and 2012 general elections for State Assembly.[4][5][6]
Biden administration
[edit]In November 2021, Perry was nominated to serve as United States ambassador to Jamaica.[7] Hearings on his nomination were held before the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee on February 8, 2022. On March 8, 2022, the committee favorably reported Perry's nomination to the Senate floor. Perry was confirmed by the entire Senate on March 10, 2022, via voice vote.[8] On May 13, 2022, he presented his credentials to Governor-General of Jamaica Sir Patrick Allen.[9]
Personal life
[edit]He and his wife Joyce reside in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn. Perry's granddaughter is Justine Skye, a Roc Nation recording artist.
References
[edit]- ^ "Assembly Member N. Nick Perry (NY)". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
- ^ a b "N. Nick Perry: Biography". New York State Assembly. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
- ^ Hicks, Jonathan P. (2006-05-24). "House Candidate Withdraws, Afraid of Splitting Black Vote". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
- ^ "Election Results 2008: New York State Legislature". The New York Times. 2008.
- ^ "Election Results 2010: New York State Legislature". The New York Times. 2010.
- ^ "Assembly Election Returns: November 2, 2010" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
- ^ "President Biden Announces Key Nominations". The White House. 2021-11-03. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
- ^ "PN1410 — N. Nickolas Perry — Department of State 117th Congress (2021-2022)". US Congress. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ @USEmbassyJA (May 13, 2022). "Ambassador N. Nick Perry (@AmbassadorUS_JA) officially presented his credentials today!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
External links
[edit]- Yassky Strategy Criticism of David Yassky by his former primary opponent.
- House Candidate Withdraws, Afraid of Splitting Black Vote
- Councilman Wants to Fine 'Dollar Van' Riders
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- 1950 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American politicians
- 21st-century American diplomats
- 21st-century American politicians
- African-American diplomats
- Ambassadors of the United States to Jamaica
- American politicians of Jamaican descent
- Brooklyn College alumni
- Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly
- United States Army reservists
- United States Army soldiers
- People educated at Kingston College (Jamaica)