Markeshia Ricks Photo
Perez at Friday’s announcement.
Paul Bass Photo
Walker.
A Cuban-born community activist who rose through the ranks of city politics and finance stepped into a new pending role Friday as the state’s top bank watchdog — while back home New Haven government braced for a change in how it conducts business.
Jorge Perez declared himself “honored” and “humbled” as Gov. Dannel P. Malloy formally announced that he has chosen Perez for his new role, as state banking commissioner.
Malloy at Friday’s announcement.
Malloy (pictured) and Perez spoke at a noon press conference inside the old Appropriations Committee room in the state Capitol building in Hartford.
A sense of celebration imbued the moment — of a New Haven figure reaching a top state post, and of an immigrant who made good. New Haven State Sen. Martin Looney, Democratic Town Chairman Vincent Mauro, Jr., and Alders Al Paolillo, and Adam Marchand attended the event.
Paolillo, who called Perez a mentor, said Perez’s public service is “unparalleled” and that his appointment is “special for him, but special for all of us in New Haven.”
“How could you not miss Jorge Perez,” he said. “What he brings to the city… it’s no wonder that he has this type of opportunity.”
Mayor Toni Harp’s Chief of Staff Tomas Reyes, who also attended the announcement Friday, said that Perez has served the city well. “He has been a stabilizing force on the Board of Alders,” he said. “The city’s loss, so to speak, is the state’s gain.”
Perez’s appointment now goes before the General Assembly for confirmation. Looney, the State Senate’s president, said he “foresee[s] no problem” with the confirmation. Perez is expected to start his new job on March 13 — at which point, he said, he will resign his position as a Hill alder.
That would mean a special election will take place for his replacement in Ward 5. More importantly, the Board of Alders will get a new president, the second more powerful position in local government after the mayor. Second-term West River Alder Tyisha Walker, the board’s president pro tem, would ascend to that role under the rules of the city charter. Walker couldn’t be reached for comment Friday.
Perez is to succeed Bruce Adams, who has been serving as acting banking commissioner since Howard Pitkin resigned the post in January.
“A Wonderful Life”
“Only in America can you be 16 and working in the mail room of a bank, and continue through hard work and move up to become the head of the banking department of the state,” said Perez, who is 52. He came to the Bronx with his family from Cuba as a child. The family moved to New Haven, where Perez attended New Haven schools and got started in politics and banking.
Perez first won his seat as an alderman in 1987 (before the term became officially changed to “alder”). He served as board president from 2000 to 2006, then again from 2012 to the president. He is known for asking the most detailed, probing questions on finances, putting city officials on their toes. As former city Chief Administrative Officer Rob Smuts put it in a comment posted to an earlier version of this article: “I know I always had to think a little harder and triple check all my facts knowing that I had to go before Jorge [to make a presentation before the Board of Alders], and I’m sure that is as true for my successor in city government as it was for my predecessors. Such a knowledgeable and tireless head of the legislative body does not make things easy for administration officials, but does result in better government.”
“Give those banks a taste of accountability!” Smuts added.
In his remarks with the governor Friday, Perez indeed pledged to tap his activist background. “At the end of the day, I want the consumer to know that I am their advocate,” he said.
“I’m sure all of you have heard of a movie called It’s a Wonderful Life. It illustrates what happens when a bank is managed well and follows the rules, and what happens when that does not exist.”
When Perez was asked about policy goals as banking commissioner, Gov. Malloy cut in to highlight his administration’s efforts to help homeowners facing foreclosure renegotiate with lenders to stay in their homes. Perez said he’d continue work on that effort.
Frank Alvarado, who also attended the announcement, said he looks forward to how Perez might apply his background to helping small businesses access capital, particularly small, minority-owned businesses.
The Post-Perez Board
New Haven mayoral Chief of Staff Tomas Reyes, who originally mentored Perez as a new alder, with the appointee Friday.
As news of Perez’s appointment spread Thursday night, one question back home concerned how the dynamics of local government will now change. Besides forcing city officials to justify requests for spending and new laws, Perez has played a crucial behind-the-scenes role negotiating political disagreements. Behind the scenes he also led the legislative branch’s negotiations with the mayor’s office on major issues. Because he has served so much longer than other elected officials, he has served as the board’s repository of institutional knowledge. When other alders run committee meetings attended by Perez, they often look over to Perez for silent or spoken cues about how to proceed.
“I’m sort of curious to know what happens next. I think we all are. It’s still very fluid,” said Joseph Rodriguez, who has worked with Perez first as a Fair Haven alder and now as the mayor’s legislative liaison.
“He’s definitely going to be missed, because he brings 30 years of his institutional knowledge. You can’t buy it,” observed Dixwell Alder Jeanette Morrison, part of the board’s leadership team as majority leader.
Perez nurtured that team in a way that will ease the transition of power after his departure, Morrison predicted.
“I think the good thing that Jorge did as president was to not make himself president alone. He looked at the role as leadership as the six of us [in top roles]. Even though everyone knows he’s the president and he has the final word, he doesn’t make decisions without including all of us. That makes it all this” easier.
Town Chair Mauro compared the moment to John DeStefano’s decision in 2013 to retire after 20 years as mayor.
“Remember when DeStefano left and everybody said, ‘Now what?’
“The board will go through a little of that too. But they have a lot of smart and capable people. People will take on different responsibilities, and everyone will grow into different roles. It will figure itself out. ”
Side note for New Haven political junkies: If confirmed, Perez will return to the role of regulating the activities of John DeStefano. When he served as mayor of New Haven, DeStefano needed the Board of Alders’ approval — which often meant Perez’s approval — for many initiatives. Now DeStefano serves as vice-president of START Community Bank — which the state Department of Banking regulates.