Star Of Queens

Wednesday, January 30, 2008 4:32 PM EST

Alfonso Quiroz
Queens Community Board 3 Member
Jackson Heights

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Alfonso Quiroz is currently a member of Queens Community Board 3 as well as a member of The J.F.K. Democratic Club, The Stonewall Democratic Club and The Citizen’s Advice Bureau, a settlement house in the Bronx. He is also active in the Jackson Heights Beautification Group. Most recently, Quiroz has raised more than $25,600 in a potential bid for a City Council run in District 25 in 2009.

PERSONAL: Quiroz, 35, is originally from the south side of Chicago and is of Mexican, German and Ukrainian descent. He lives in Jackson Heights with his partner Jeff Simmons.

JOB: For the past two years, Quiroz has been working as public affairs manager of Consolidated Edison of New York, Inc., working with the public in different boroughs.

PROUDEST MOMENT: Quiroz said his proudest moment was celebrating his 23rd birthday in the East Wing of the White House. While in college, Quiroz worked hard to break into politics and was hired as an intern for the Clinton administration in 1995. Quiroz said being so young, working for a terrific administration, and being able to celebrate his birthday in the White House made him proud.

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Quiroz said his most challenging and rewarding experience was working as Deputy Chief of Staff to Councilmember Helen Sears in Jackson Heights. He said working with the public and constituent problems in Jackson Heights, Corona and Elmhurst, whether it was dealing with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Sanitation or the Department of Buildings was a challenge but taught him a lot. “People still stop me on the street and ask me for help,” he said.

FAVORITE MEMORY: “It’s not really one memory, but a time,” Quiroz said. After working in the White House, he was hired by Al Gore to be a political aide. He traveled across the country, registered voters and rallied support. At the end, he was assigned to Florida where he oversaw operations and witnessed firsthand the grassroots efforts of the 2000 presidential election.

INSPIRATION: Quiroz’ greatest inspiration is his parents. He comes from a middle class family. His father is a retired member of the Steelworkers Union who built railroad cars for a living, and his mother was a secretary. “They worked hard to give me and my sister the best education possible and the opportunity to do what we wanted in life.”

- Laura Shin