Reverend Rubén Díaz, Sr (Dem) was declared a winner of the primary for State Senate, this past November. In an exclusive interview conducted by Estelle Massa, Senator Díaz and Assemblyman Díaz shared their plans for the future. Senator Díaz was a City Council member from the Bronx area in 2002. He was also the Pastor of the Christian Community Neighborhood Church. Díaz has had an impressive career geared towards civic service. In 1997, he founded the Christian Community Benevolent Association. Díaz has also operated three senior centers, a home attendant program for 1,000 participants, as well as the South Bronx Senior Transportation Network, which provides transportation for seniors. Díaz is the president of the New York Hispanic Clergy and served on the Civilian Complaint Review Board and now sits on the State Senate Task Force on Aging.

NYS Senator Ruben Diaz and US Senator Hillary Clinton

EM: Now that the Hispanic population has become the largest minority group in the US five years before anticipated, what can we expect from legislation on both local and state levels?

RD: We have always been fighting. Politicians are paying closer attention though. They are willing to work closely with our community and that’s an indication that things are changing. In late February, I was asked to conduct the opening prayers at the Senate House in Washington, and I invited 100 Pastors with me.

EM: What will be your efforts for the aging community now that you are a Senator?

RD: I sit on the Task Force for the Aging now, and am pushing to bring the community’s issues to the Republican Party.

EM: How has it been working with your son Assemblyman Rubén Díaz Jr. ?

RD: It isn’t only having a son that deals and works with you; it’s having a friend, a colleague, and a fellow politician. We consort in everything, we’re buddies.

EM: How has Washington welcomed you?

RD: When I went to Washington last week, accompanied by the Pastors I invi-ted to the opening prayer, Senator Clinton, Senator Schumer, and the Minority Leaders all showed their support.[President Bush sent a private lawyer on his behalf to personally welcome Díaz.]

EM: What is your political agenda?

RD: My main focus is, and has been senior citizens, affordable housing, and recent cuts made to the education budget in New York.

Senator Díaz has been an active member of his community for over 30 years, a relentless advocate fighting for equality, affordable housing, education, and over-all betterment of the Latino community.