José Alvarado won reelection to the Board of Legislators in 2022 for an eighth non-consecutive term. In January 2024, his colleagues selected him to serve as Vice-Chairman.

José was first elected to the Board in 2001, representing the 17th District, which covers Southwest Yonkers. This historic victory made him Westchester’s first Hispanic/Latino County Legislator. During his first tenure as a legislator, José served five terms from 2002 to 2011. After a brief hiatus, he returned to the Board, winning election for the 2020–2021 legislative term and reelection for the 2022–2023 term. Following his reelection in 2023, he is currently serving the 2024–2025 term.

In addition to his role as Vice-Chairman, José serves as a member of the Rules Committee and the Human Services Committee. Moreover, he is the Vice-Chair of the Veterans, Seniors, and Youth Committee.

José’s journey began in 1982 when he moved from his native Honduras to Yonkers. He arrived with limited formal education and minimal exposure to the English language. Despite these challenges, José took on a series of minimum-wage jobs to support his family while earning his high school equivalency diploma. While studying business at Mercy College, he volunteered as an English tutor in the school’s bilingual program. This experience ignited his lifelong commitment to public service and community involvement.

Over the years, José has dedicated himself to volunteering with dozens of community-based organizations, faith-based groups, and civic organizations, focusing on education, health care, and business development, among other areas.

Before his first election to the Board of Legislators, José served Westchester County in various capacities. He began as a case manager for personal care services and was later promoted to Senior Case Manager for Child Protective Services. Additionally, he served as Management Fellow for the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services and as Special Assistant to the County Executive. His commitment to public service extended to his role as Special Advisor to the President and CEO of White Plains Hospital for 10 years and as a community outreach consultant for several organizations.

For his decade of public service as a legislator, José received the highest distinction awarded to individuals in Westchester County, along with citations from all levels of government.

After his initial tenure on the Board of Legislators, José continued his public service as Assistant to the Yonkers Mayor and later as Yonkers City Clerk. He also shared his expertise as an adjunct professor of political science at Mercy College. Today, he serves as the Director of Recreation for the Yonkers Parks Department.

José’s commitment to his community extends beyond his official duties. He has served on the Advisory Boards of the White Plains Hospital Diabetes Center, the Westchester Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Yonkers Mexican Chamber of Commerce, the Westchester Community College Yonkers Extension, and the South Broadway Business Improvement District.

Upon returning to the legislature, José vowed to deliver results for Southwest Yonkers, and he has honored that commitment. He spearheaded the creation of a new water access park in the Ludlow Park Neighborhood, securing $10 million in the County’s 2021 Capital Budget for the project. Additionally, he added a $5 million investment to complete the south-end Riverwalk project. Currently, over $7 million is being invested in Tibbetts Brook Park to modernize and restore it to its original beauty. He also reactivated all odor mitigation projects at the Yonkers Joint Wastewater Treatment Plant, ensuring their completion. Furthermore, José has worked tirelessly to restore needed social services to Southwest Yonkers and to reinstate funding for local community-based organizations that serve the area’s most vulnerable residents.

José’s unwavering support for youth programs has been a cornerstone of his work. Collaborating with Mayor Mike Spano, he reactivated the Yonkers Youth Bureau during his first term as a returning legislator. His dedication to Westchester’s seniors is equally steadfast. During the 2020–2021 term, he chaired the Committee on Seniors, Youth, and Intergenerational Services, overseeing programs across the county.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, José played a pivotal role in supporting the community. He ensured that local food pantries maintained adequate supplies by securing funding for Feeding Westchester. Alongside volunteers, he personally delivered groceries and meals to the area’s most affected individuals. He also secured funding for eviction prevention and successfully advocated for a large vaccination site in Southwest Yonkers. His advocacy for food security continues, as he now supports the community refrigerator program, providing daily essentials to families in need.

Throughout his career, José has received numerous recognitions, including the American Lung Association Excellence in Leadership Award, the Hispanic Resource Center Amigo Award, the La Guia Hispana Service Award, the Mercy College Public Service Award, the Dominican Cultural Association of Yonkers Award, the YWCA Celebrity Chef Distinction Award, the Hispanic Democrats of Westchester Outstanding Legislative Leadership Award, the National Association of Counties Leadership Award, and the Child Care Council of Westchester Legislative Award, among others.

José earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Mercy College. He pursued graduate studies at Pace University, where he earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration/Health Care. In 2010, he received a Leadership Certificate from the NYU School of Management.

José and his wife Karla are proud parents of Amy Isabel, who recently completed her four-year college education at Oswego State University; Melina Raquel, who attended Saunders High School and is now starting her second year of college at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications; and Ryan José, who is currently in 7th grade at PEARLS Hawthorne.