Peter Rivera, who has represented the Bronx in the State Assembly for the last two decades, will be leaving his post this summer to join Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration. He will take over as head of the State Labor Department.

That leaves his 76th Assembly District (to be renamed the 89th, due to legislative redistricting), up for grabs this fall. Two potential candidates have already expressed their interest in running for the seat, which covers the neighborhoods of Van Nest, West Farms, Parkchester and Castle Hill.

Danny Figueroa, Rivera’s longtime chief-of-staff, is throwing his hat in the ring in an effort to fill his bosses’ shoes. He would be likely to face off against Luis Sepulveda, a Parkchester attorney and community organizer who challenged Rivera for his seat in 2010, but lost.

Figueroa, a father of three who grew up in the south Bronx but has lived in Parkchester for the last 25 years, said he hadn’t considered a formal run for office until Rivera announced he would be vacating the seat. He has been the Assemblyman’s chief-of-staff for the last nine years, and says that while his name might not be as recognizable as Sepulveda’s, he hopes his work in Albany and his ties to the community will win him favor with voters.

“I feel that I have the experience that is necessary to go to Albany and continue the work that the Assemblyman has performed, and to also bring a to a new type of energy,” he said. “We’ve done some really good things, and I think that I have the experience necessary to continue to move our state, our county and our district forward.”

Sepulveda, who resides in West Farms, also points to his experience serving the community as the strength of his potential candidacy.

“I’ve been working in this district for a long time,” he said. “I’ve been working on many projects to improve the lives of residents here.”

Sepulveda, who also teaches law classes at Mercy College, has spent the last two years since his first run for office organizing a number community events and campaigns, often alongside State Sen. Ruben Diaz, Sr., a friend who endorsed Sepulveda his first time around. The two started a program that provides free legal services to low-income residents, and Sepulveda has organized rallies to address school overcrowding and a campaign to draw attention to air pollution and safety issues caused by the Cross Bronx Expressway.

“People know what we’ve been doing,” he said. “So I hope this finally will get me to the promise land.”

Those vying for state office have until July to collect signatures to get their names on the official primary ballot.