Diana Ayala

Diana Ayala is the Councilwoman for the 8th district of the New York City Council. Ayala won the seat being vacated by outgoing Councilwoman and speaker, Melissa Mark-Viverito in 2017.^[1] The district includes Concourse, Concourse Village, East Harlem, Highbridge, Longwood, Mott Haven, Port Morris, and Randall's Island. She is a member of the Democratic Party (United States).^[2]

Life and career

Born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, she and her family moved to New York City as a child. They lived in public housing after living in shelters. She received an Associates degree in Human Services from Bronx Community College. She worked for seven years as a Senior Center Director in East Harlem. Ayala then served as Constituent Services Director Deputy Chief of Staff for Mark-Viverito.^[3]

Ayala and “her life partner Frankie” live in East Harlem along with two rescued dogs and three cats. She has four children and three grandchildren.^[4]

New York City Council

Diana Ayala ran against three other candidates in the Democratic primary (which is the real election, in a heavily democratic district such as this one) for the open 8th city council district. Ayala had the support of the term-limited incumbent, and speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. Ayala's main primary opponent was Robert J. Rodriguez, an assemblyman. Ayala won the primary narrowly with 43.5% of the vote (4,012 votes) to Rodriguez's 42.23% (3,895 votes). In the general, Ayala won an overwhelming victory, garnering 91.07% of the vote. (13,617 votes), with her Republican opponent, Daby Carreras, getting 5.26% (787 votes) and her Conservative opponent, Linda Ortiz, getting 3.30% of the vote (494 votes). ^[5]

References

External links

• Councilwoman Diana Ayala (official site)