On Monday, Fernando Tirado, Community Board 7’s district manager, formally announced his decision to run for State Senate in the 33rd Senate District. In doing so, Tirado joins a crowded field that now includes four Democratic contenders trying to unseat the district’s current senator, Pedro Espada, Jr., in the September primary.

Standing next to the World War I monument on Mosholu Parkway in front of his family and 20 or so friends and neighbors (including three or four CB7 board members), Tirado gave a brief speech. While short on specifics as to what he would do if elected, the speech was high on hope for a better tomorrow.

“For too long we’ve had to endure the frustration of a government that does not work for the people,” said Tirado, who read from a prepared speech. “I tell you today that it’s not only time for a change, it’s time to move forward from the political culture of inaction that has paralyzed Albany for too long.”

Speaking afterwards, he said he would continue as district manager until the end of the petitioning process in July, and that, if he made it onto the ballot, he would then have to decide what to do next.  He added, “As you get closer to the primary, I am going to ask [the Board] for some time so that I can concentrate on the campaign.”

With roughly four months until the Democratic primary in September, there are now four candidates vying for Espada’s seat: Tirado, activist Desiree Pilgrim-Hunter, Gustavo Rivera (see page 2), a former outreach coordinator for U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and lawyer and Community Board 8 member Daniel Padernacht.

Tirado has a BA in Political Science and worked for the city’s Health Department for years before becoming district manager of Community Board 7 (Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights) in 2008. He moved to Bedford Park in 2006 and joined the community board as a member before being plucked to replace longtime district manager Rita Kessler.

Under Tirado’s watch, the board has modernized — launching a new website, sending out e-mail alerts and reaching out through other social media outlets like Facebook. (He also put a huge new flat screen in the board’s meeting room.) He helped guide the board through the strenuous land use review process for the Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment plan last summer. (The board voted for the plan to make the Armory a shopping mall, with conditions that were never met. The plan died in the City Council.)

As district manager, he has also shepherded the board’s work with the Department of City Planning to rezone Webster Avenue and surrounding neighborhoods.

Without going into detail, Tirado said he would “champion fiscal responsibility and economic development for the state, hold government and taxpayer subsidized organizations accountable to the people.”

As for his opponents or Espada, who is facing civil corruption and fraud charges from the state attorney general, Tirado declined to offer any opinion. “I’m not going to comment on any candidate including the current senator,” he said. “I want people to judge me for me and what I can bring to the table.”

Espada wasn’t in attendance at the announcement, but two of his staffers kept an eye on proceedings from the other side of the street.