With his high cheekbones, wide smile and tan skin, Manny Tavarez looks every part a professional baseball player.  Although injuries ended his playing career in the Dominican Republic, baseball remains an integral part of Tavarez’s life, even now that he is running for the state senate, making sure to pass out baseballs at nearly every campaign event he attends.

The first-time candidate is challenging State Senator Gustavo Rivera to represent the 33rd district. You may have seen him and his supporters riding around in a campaign truck that belongs to State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., a socially conservative Democrat who was close allies with former 33rd District State Senator Pedro Espada, who was convicted on corruption charges earlier this year. Rivera defeated Espada soundly in 2010.

Tavarez is hoping help from Diaz and a conservative backlash against Rivera’s liberal leanings will propel him to an upset victory. But Rivera sees some of Espada’s shady tactics in Tavarez’s campaign, most notably the fact that he has not disclosed how much money he has raised or what he is spending his campaign money on. Where are all of those baseballs coming from?

In late August, Tavarez told the Norwood News the filing issue was merely an oversight and that the campaign would be disclosing his financials at the next filing date, Aug. 31. That didn’t happen. On Sunday, the Gotham Gazette reported that the state Board of Elections has sent numerous letters to Tavarez’s campaign asking why they have yet to file and is preparing to sue his campaign committee.

“It’s unfortunate that [Tavarez] is like my predecessor [Espada],” Rivera said. “We’ve seen his literature and the trucks, so we know he’s spending money. We just don’t know exactly how he’s spending the money or where it’s coming from.”

Still, Tavarez’s name will be on the ballot when polls open on Sept. 13 and he believes he has something to offer people in the district, which no longer covers Norwood and and most of Bedford Park, but does include Fordham, Kingsbridge, University Heights and Tremont.

“I got fed up with everything going on outside in this community,” said Tavarez. “And I feel with my views and my new ideas I can help our community.”

Born in Rochester, Tavarez grew up on 174thStreet, the middle child to a retired electrician and an elementary school teacher.

“My life growing up in the Bronx was a struggle; very low income neighborhood, high crime,” said Tavarez. “What helped me growing up was sports. Sports saved my life. It gave me an outlet, a way out.”

He graduated from South Bronx High School in 1998. After a stint pitching in the Dominican Republic, Tavarez earned a degree in sports management from Barry University in South Florida and became a sports agent. He moved back to the Bronx in 2010, the same year he got married.

“Coming back to the Bronx as a sports agent, I think there was a light that went off in my head. I think the best way to get [kids] off the street is through sports,” said Tavarez. “There’s nothing catering towards our young people.”

Along with sports programming, education reform is a priority on Tavarez’s platform.

“The other thing I want to bring to the Bronx is a vocational high school,” said Tavarez. “This high school will have different traits — carpentry, general mechanics, general construction. With the overwhelming amount of kids who don’t go to college, this will help kids provide for the families.”

Tavarez also wants to combat overcrowded classrooms if elected.

“I’d allocate more money into our schools. Overcrowded classrooms are a huge problem in this district,” he said. “The Bronx needs so much help; we’re famous for all the wrong reasons.”

Tavarez mainly differs from Rivera on two social issues: abortion and gay marriage.

“[Spirtuality] plays a major role in my life,” said Tavarez. “My family values, there’s only a few Democrats who share those. I’m for traditional marriage, and pro-life. I’m not being discriminatory – my thing is marriage is between one man and one woman…we have to protect the most innocent – life begins at conception.”

Tavarez cited Congressman Charlie Rangel and State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. as two of his political influences. He has also worked for Hector Ramirez and he and his wife attend Fernando Cabrera’s church.

“[I admire Diaz’s] courage and integrity that cannot be bought — those religious values we share,” said Tavarez. “The Bronx is a conservative district.”

Although Tavarez lacks the name recognition Rivera has, he remains confident in his chances of succeeding in this week’s Democratic primary.

“We’re running a pretty aggressive campaign and the response we’re getting on the ground is great,” said Tavarez. “I’m wearing my comfortable sneakers today, we’re knocking on doors.”

“I’ve been involved in the community; I’m from the Bronx and grew up here my whole life. I know exactly what the problems of the people who live here. I didn’t just come here eight years ago for school and happen to get into policy,” said Tavarez. “ I know exactly what goes on in these apartments and these streets. With that experience, it will help me in Albany.”

–with additional reporting by Alex Kratz

admin

Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.