Former Nassau County Legis. David Mejias, D-Farmingdale, has been elected president of the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association.
Mejias will begin his term Friday after serving as the association's Vice President.
He currently practices family law as one of the founders of the firm, Mejias, Milgrim and Alvarado.
He was elected to the Legislature in 2003 -- becoming its first Hispanic member -- before losing the seat, which serves Farmingdale and Massapequa, to Joe Belesi in 2009. He lost a bid for Rep. Pete King's U.S. Congresional seat in 2006.
Mejias also considered running for elected office in 2010 against state Sen. Kemp Hannon, R-Garden City.
Since becoming Vice President of LIHBA, Mejias has partnered with Suffolk County District Attorney Tom Spota’s Office, Bethpage Federal Credit Union and Touro Law School to create a paid summer internship opportunity for Latino American law students.
He plans to look to create more opportunities in law enforcement as the organization's president.
“I am honored and excited to begin my tenure as president of the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association,” Mejias said. “Hispanic Americans comprise the second largest ethnic group in America, yet they are statistically the smallest demographic to report a crime or enter into the law enforcement field. I look forward to continuing to further LIHBA’s footprint as a viable and valuable resource to local advocacy groups, law enforcement and the Long Island Hispanic American community.”
Mejias is a graduate of the University at Albany School of Business and the Fordham University School of Law.
