Kevin Parker (New York politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kevin Parker
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| Member of the New York State Senate from the 21st district |
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| Assumed office January 1, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Carl Kruger |
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| Born | March 6, 1967 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Pennsylvania State University (BS) |
Kevin Parker was born on March 6, 1967. He is an American politician from New York. Since 2002, he has been a member of the New York State Senate. He represents the 21st district.
This district includes parts of Brooklyn neighborhoods. These areas are East Flatbush, Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington, Park Slope, and Windsor Terrace. Kevin Parker is a member of the Democratic Party.
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Early Life and Education
Kevin Parker is the son of Sonie and Georgie Parker. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He went to P.S. 193 and Andries Hudde I.S. 240. He also attended Midwood High School.
After high school, he went to Penn State. There, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. His studies focused on Public Service.
Early Career Steps
Before becoming an elected official, Parker worked in public service. He was an aide to New York State Comptroller H. Carl McCall. A Comptroller is like a chief financial officer for the state.
He also worked as a New York City Urban Fellow. This was under Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger. A Borough President leads one of New York City's main areas.
In 2001, Parker ran for a seat on the New York City Council. He sought to represent District 45. He did not win this election.
Serving New York State
Kevin Parker first became a New York State Senator in 2002. He represents the 21st district in Brooklyn. This role involves making laws for the state.
Senate Elections
In 2002, Parker won a tough election. He defeated former City Councilman Noach Dear. This was for a new State Senate seat in Brooklyn.
He won the general election that year. This marked his first time being elected to the Senate. In 2008, he faced strong challenges in the primary election. He won with just under half of the votes.
Important Laws and Votes
As a State Senator, Kevin Parker has voted on many important laws. In 2011, he voted for the Marriage Equality Act. This law made marriage legal for all couples in New York. It was signed into law on the same day.
After Democrats gained control of the Senate in 2018, Parker became a leader. He was named Chair of the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications. He also served as the Majority Whip.
In 2019, Parker voted for the Reproductive Health Act. This bill was also signed into law. He also sponsored a bill that year to ban undetectable firearms.
Key Bills Sponsored by Parker
Senator Parker has sponsored several important bills. In 2020, a bill he sponsored became law. It stopped utility companies from turning off service during emergencies. This was especially helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Another bill he sponsored recognized Juneteenth as an official state holiday. This happened on October 14, 2020. Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, marks the day enslaved people in Texas learned they were free. This was more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.
In 2020, he also sponsored a bill. This bill aimed to recognize racism as a public health crisis. In 2021, he proposed a law again. This law would require NYPD officers to live in one of New York City's five boroughs.
Running for Comptroller
In 2021, Kevin Parker announced he would run for New York City Comptroller. The Comptroller manages the city's money. He ran in the Democratic primary election.
Other candidates included NYS Senator Brian Benjamin and NYC Council member Brad Lander. Parker finished sixth in the primary election. Brad Lander won the primary.
Kevin Parker is also running for other offices. He is seeking to become the New York City Comptroller again in 2025. He is also running for Brooklyn Borough President in 2025.
