Ischia Bravo, district manager for Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7), has been appointed as the county clerk for Bronx County at the Supreme Court of the State of New York Appellate Division, First Judicial Department, effective Jan. 2, 2023.

The news was announced in a press release on Wednesday, Oct. 19, by presiding Justice Rolando T. Acosta. According to Acosta, in her new capacity as county clerk, Bravo will be responsible for the oversight of one of the State’s busiest county clerk’s offices and will serve several functions, including as clerk of the Supreme Court, civil branch, Bronx County and the commissioner of jurors for the Supreme Court, Bronx County, for both the civil and criminal branches.

Court officials confirmed the appointment was made by a unanimous vote of the Appellate Division, First Department pursuant to Article 13 of the New York State Constitution. “Ischia Bravo has worked in public service for more than 15 years, most recently as district manager for Bronx Community Board 7 since 2018. She has previously worked as executive director of the Bronx Democratic county committee, with nonprofit organizations, and in the offices of a U.S. congressman and New York state senator,” the press release read.

Acosta said Bravo had extensive experience conducting public hearings to understand community concerns, liaising with government officials and community leaders, and managing staffs of more than 50 employees and budgets over $500,000. “The Court is pleased to appoint Ischia Bravo to the position of Bronx County Clerk following a rigorous, merit-based hiring process,” he said. “I convened a committee of five Justices, which reviewed nearly 300 applications, selected eight of the most highly qualified candidates for interviews, and recommended a select few of the most impressive candidates to me.”

Acosta continued, “From that list, I interviewed the top two candidates and found Ms. Bravo to be the most highly qualified, based on her credentials as a longstanding public servant and lifelong resident of the Bronx, her clearly expressed enthusiasm for public service, and her
passion for inspiring the people of Bronx County to participate in local government. I recommended Ms. Bravo to the Court, which approved her appointment unanimously.”

He went on to say he would be remiss if he failed to note the historic nature of the appointment, as Bravo will be the first woman and first Latina to serve as Bronx County Clerk. “I am hopeful that insofar as her appointment will contribute to our ‘gorgeous mosaic,’ as former Mayor David Dinkins put it, even more residents of the Bronx will see themselves reflected in their public servants. The Court is confident that Ms. Bravo will serve honorably in her new role, will improve operations in the Bronx County Clerk’s Office and Supreme Court, and will make the people of Bronx County proud.”

Acosta said the court extended its gratitude to Kevin Rothermel for serving as acting county clerk for the past two years. “By all accounts, he has done an excellent job, and we thank him for his service,” Acosta said.

Upon her appointment, Bravo said, “I look forward to continuing my public service career as the Bronx County Clerk. The Bronx is not only my home, but also my passion, and the people of The Bronx need and deserve strong representation in critical roles such as this one. Growing up in public housing, I know all too well the challenges faced by Bronxites, and the feeling of being forgotten by those in power.”

She added, “As the Bronx county clerk, I will do my part to change that—to lead an office where residents feel welcomed and valued. I want people to know that they are not only getting the best service, but that they deserve the best service. This honor is particularly special to me because I will be the first Latina to serve in this position, making this a historic appointment taking place toward the end of Hispanic
Heritage Month. I want to express my gratitude to Presiding Justice Rolando T. Acosta and the court for this honor.”

Reacting to the news, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, said, “We are so proud that former CB 7 District Manager, Ischia Bravo, has been appointed the County Clerk of Bronx County!” She added, “She will be the FIRST WOMAN & LATINA to hold this title. This is huge! We are so proud and cannot wait to see all that she does in this position.”

As reported, Bravo previously ran for elected office, most recently as City Council member for District 15, a race that was ultimately won by District 15 City Council Member Oswald Feliz, with Bravo finishing as runner-up. Bravo garnered an impressive slate of endorsements during her run, including from Leandra Feliz, peace activist and mother of slain teenager and NYPD Explorer member, Lesandro “Junior” Guzman-Feliz.

Bravo’s move to the new role of Bronx county clerk leaves an open position for district manager on Bronx Community Board 7.

In addition, elections for various roles on the board are due to be held in the near future. Karla Cabrera-Carrera, assistant district manager of Bronx Community Board 7, said nominations will take place in late October, and elections will be held in November. As reported, chair of the board, Emmanuel Martinez, stepped down over the summer. In the interim, board member and CB7 Parks committee chair, Barbara Stronczer is currently acting as chair.

admin

Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.