First elected to the Assembly in 1994, becoming its first Puerto Rican woman member, Carmen Arroyo had long been active in school issues in the Bronx. She also is the author of a book of poetry. Her daughter, Maria del Carmen Arroyo, serves on the City Council
In 2002, the Democratic primary in this district was so close -- Arroyo's opponent Pedro Gautier Espada got five more votes or than she did -- than a judge ordered a revote. Arroyo won that contest by 151 votes.
This time around her opponent is Conservative Frank Dellavalle. He ran for Congress in 2002 but got less than 10 percent of the vote against Jose Serrano. Little other information about him was available.
Campaign filings for Arroyo and Dellavalle were not available.