TEHRAN, November 23 - State Sen. Jose Peralta, a New York lawmaker who was the first Dominican-American elected to the Senate, has died. The Democrat was 47 and nearing the end of nearly two decades in office after losing a primary this fall.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - Peralta died Wednesday night at Elmhurst Hospital, spokesman Chris Sosa said. The cause of death has not been determined.
Peralta's wife, Evelyn, told reporters he had felt pressure behind his ears and headaches for a week or more and had seen a doctor, according to local news outlets. But his condition didn't raise alarms until he developed a fever Tuesday and became disoriented and had trouble breathing Wednesday, when he was taken to a hospital, she said.
His wife said the family believes his illness was an infection but is awaiting autopsy results.
"We really don't know what happened," she said. "... He just took a turn for the worst."
Peralta represented parts of Queens in New York's Senate for eight years and served in the state Assembly for eight years before that. As a senator, he was a member of a breakaway Democratic group that, for a time, formed a coalition with Republicans to control the chamber.
News of his death brought an outpouring of sympathy from officials and the soon-to-be-senator who ousted him in September's primary.
"When I met him in 2003, I saw a world of promise for our community," Sen.-elect Jessica Ramos wrote on Twitter. "Though years later we'd disagree on tackling the issues, I know in his heart he loved his community. He was a true public servant."
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, called Peralta "a relentless advocate for Queens" who "fought tirelessly to make a difference for others."
Source: AP
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