Manuel sees government as a force for good.

Meet manuel casanova

Our Community’s Choice for County Legislature

Manuel is a Democrat from New Rochelle and is passionate about public service. He is a Democratic District Leader, member of the Hispanic Democrats, Westchester Democrats, Fuerza Latina, and Indivisibles New Rochelle. Manuel has a track record helping elect new leaders to the New Rochelle school board and protecting and expanding the Democratic Majority at the local level in Westchester.

Manuel has over 20 years of professional experience. Between 2013 through 2017, Manuel worked as a political operative in 11 races. These races ranged from local to state and federal races.

Manuel’s first foray into politics was in 2006, and he followed up as a voter protection volunteer for the Obama campaign. Inspired by what he learned in 2008, Manuel pursued his Master’s degree in Elections and Campaign Management at Fordham University. Manuel also has an accomplished and diverse business background.
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Manuel’s corporate experience includes working with startups, in wealth management, corporate turnaround, and airline carriers. Between 2007 and 2020, Manuel worked for LAN Airlines, LATAM Airlines (a product of the merger between LAN and TAM Airlines), and Finnair.
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In 1989, Manuel came from Chile to the US as an exchange student to live with a family in upstate New York. He fell in love with our country and the American culture and started developing his American dream. In 1997 Manuel moved to Miami and in 2001 to New York. Manuel fell in love with his wife, Christine, and proudly became a citizen when their first daughter was two years old in 2010.
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Manuel has always been an active community member. Before moving to New Rochelle, Manuel resided in Manhattan, where he served as a PTA officer, elected CEC3 board member, and Community Board 7 member.
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During his time at CEC3, Manuel was proud to cast his vote for the first rezoning of District 3. The purpose of rezoning was to bring equity and real diversity to the district’s students, families, and schools.
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Manuel’s academic credentials include an MA in Election & Campaign Management from Fordham University, and an MBA and BA, in International Relations, from Florida International University.
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Manuel enjoys cooking, reading, coaching soccer, and playing tennis. His wife and daughters love helping him prepare his famous South American BBQ for family and friends. When Manuel is not out and about in the community, he is relaxing with the family and Samson who fills their lives with unconditional love.