The youngest candidate in a crowded field for the 80th Assembly District primary, Adam Bermudez, 29, worked as a reporter for the Bronx Times and as a freelance public affairs consultant for other campaigns before deciding to run for office himself.

A self-described “progressive Democrat,” Bermudez decided to get involved in the race because he was not pleased with the current state of the district.

“I realized that I was unsatisfied with the current incumbent [Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera],” Bermudez said. “I choose to run because I feel I could offer our community what we deserve.”

Bermudez was born and raised in the Pelham Gardens neighborhood of the Bronx, and attended Regis High School on the Upper East Side before earning a bachelor’s degree at Wesleyan University in Connecticut.

“I’ve lived here all of my life,” said Bermudez. “I really know this community and understand this community.”

Bermudez also has deep roots here, as both of his parents were born in New York City. His mom, who is of Irish descent, was born and raised in the Bronx and works as a part-time assistant in Manhattan. His paternal grandparents emmigrated from Puerto Rico, and his father is a former mortgage broker. (Bermudez himself also dabbled in real estate.)

“I’m very much of a family hit by the financial crisis,” said Bermudez. Unemployment is one of the issues he is most passionate about.

“As far as joblessness, as a young twentysomething, some of those most vulnerable in these tough economic times are young adults and their parents, who are saddled with helping their adult children,” said Bermudez.

Prior to announcing his candidacy, Bermudez was working with another campaign. He is now unemployed, and says he has a history of being underemployed. He cited Jose Rivera – his opponent’s father and the patriarch of the Bronx political clan – as inspiration since he ran for State Assembly while collecting unemployment in the early 1980s.

Having only recently crossed the $1,000 mark in fund-raising, Bermudez is running his campaign on a small scale, especially compared to Rivera and fellow challenger Mark Gjonaj.

“Bottom line is I had not started fund-raising early on,” said Bermudez. “I wanted this to be a real grassroots campaign. I’m hoping to raise a few thousands of dollars to have a serious race.”

Besides promoting job training to curb unemployment, Bermudez also wants to push education reform. (He spent a year studying for a msaster’s degree in elementary education at the University of Pennsylvania before returning to the Bronx to pursue a career in politics.)

“What I really care about is education reform that considers the needs of the teachers,” said Bermudez.
The candidate also believes his youth, coupled with his professional experience, is an asset rather than a detriment.

“People keep telling me I’m ‘fresh blood,’” said Bermudez. “I feel many people are excited to see a fresh, young candidate who’s not beholden to any special interests or allegiances. When a voter is voting for Adam Bermudez, they’re voting for Adam Bermudez.”

[Editor’s note: A version of this article appears in the Sept. 6-19 print edition of the Norwood News.]