Home > Leadership > Common Council > Common Council Members > David A. Rivera

David A. Rivera

Council Member David A. Rivera currently serves on the following:

Common Council Committees:

Civil Service- Member
Claims – Chairman
Community Development- Member
Finance- Member
Minority Business Enterprise - Member
Legislation- Member
Waterfront – Member

Whitney A. Crispell
Senior Legislative Assistant
wcrispell@city-buffalo.com

Kirk Lauberstein
Legislative Assistant
klauberstein@city-buffalo.com

Noemi Medero
Legislative Assistant 
nmedero@city-buffalo.com

Common Council Member David Rivera has been a resident of Buffalo’s West Side his entire life.  His parents Juan Rivera and Maria Diaz, who were natives to the Island of Puerto Rico, came to Western New York in the early 1950’s. His father came to the area as a migrant worker in search of the stability and prosperity he knew Western New York offered.  

Soon after, Juan met Maria and began a family in the city’s Westside. Their first son was David and as time went on David would have four siblings: Charles, Marilyn, Emlyn and John. David, being the oldest, led the example and attended Buffalo Public Schools eventually moving on to Grover Cleveland High School. In 1976, he married his high school sweetheart, Esther Casillas, and the following year had a son, Joshua Rivera. After working several jobs simultaneously to provide for his family, David went to work on a manufacturing line at the Dinaire Corporation. Eventually he rose through the ranks becoming President of Local 740 of the United Rubber Cork, Linoleum, and Plastic Workers of America and all the while attending college and later the Police academy.

In 1982, he began his tenure with the City of Buffalo, NY Police Department. His first position with the department was Patrol Officer with Precincts #15 and #10. In 1985, he became Detective in the Narcotics division. It was during this time he and his wife welcomed, their second son, Jonathan. In 1988, he was promoted to Confidential Aide to the Mayors Office in the administration of then Mayor James D. Griffin. By 1990, he was promoted again to Detective Sergeant in the Robbery Unit. Starting in 1993, for the next nine years, he served as Detective Sergeant in the Sex Offense/Domestic Violence Unit. As of 2002, he has served in the General Investigative Unit as a Detective Sergeant.

Aside from his career in law enforcement, David Rivera has always maintained close ties to the community. He was President of the Puerto Rican Chicano Committee, as well as 1st President of Hispanics United of Buffalo. He has also served in the healthcare arena as Vice-Chair of Columbus Hospital, as well as Board Member of the Kalieda Health/Columbus Hospital Merger Committee. Recently, David Rivera has served as Co-Pastor of True Remnant Church on Ontario Street.  He also participated in a missionary trip to the Dominican Republic earlier this year.

This past spring David Rivera ran for public office as the democratic candidate for the Office of Niagara District Common Council Member in the City of Buffalo. He credits winning the primary election in September to the support of his friends, his family, organized labor, including the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association, and to the community he has dedicated himself.

Today, David Rivera lives on the upper West Side with his son Jon and wife of 30 years, Esther. He is also a grandfather of two from his oldest son, Joshua. He is looking forward to serving his community in his new capacity as Niagara District representative on the City’s Common Council.