Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Friday appointed New Haven Board of Aldermen President Jorge Perez to serve as state banking commissioner.
If the appointment gains legislative approval, Perez said he will resign from his office in New Haven. He would succeed former Banking Commissioner Howard Pitkin, who retired last month after 40 years with the department.
Perez has worked in the banking industry for more than 25 year and is currently employed by Liberty Bank as a vice president and senior loan officer. Malloy said Perez started his banking career when he was 16 years old, working in a mail room.
“Yes, I’ve been a banker for over 25 years. But I will remind you that prior to being a banker, and still today, I’ve also been a community activist. I have always been an advocate,” Perez said.
As commissioner, Perez will make a salary of $142,500 per year. He said he will resign from his position on the Board of Aldermen after he is confirmed. If that occurs before July, the city of New Haven will have a special election to fill his position on the board. If his resignation occurs after July 1, Mayor Toni Harp would appoint a replacement. Perez said he will also leave his position at Liberty Bank.
Perez said he intends to continue living in New Haven.
“To the residents I’ve represented for so many years, I still plan to live in The Hill, I’ll still live two blocks from where I was raised. I’m not going anywhere,” he said.
