Who is Ismael Malave Perez? Rising NYC Comptroller Candidate

On June 24, 2025, Ismael “Ish” Malave-Perez is running in the Democratic primary for New York City Comptroller. He is known for his long public service career and deep understanding of city finances. Malave-Perez wants to bring fiscal responsibility, transparency, and voter trust back to the office.

Who is Ismael Malave Perez? Early Life and Education

Malave-Perez was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico. He later moved to the Bronx, where he grew up with his siblings in a single-parent home. Life in the Bronx taught him about hard work and community. He studied economics at Lehman College and later earned an MBA in Marketing and Public Policy from Baruch College (Zicklin School).

Work in Public Service

He has spent over 23 years working in government. For eight years, he worked as a procurement analyst at NYC’s Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS). He also worked with five New York comptrollers, the Public Advocate’s office, and even the New York State Comptroller’s team. His jobs have always focused on city finance, budgets, and audits.

Main Campaign Goals

Malave-Perez has shared several key promises with voters:

• Stronger audits to stop wasteful spending in city agencies.

• Protecting pension funds from risky political decisions.

• Fighting wage theft and making sure workers are paid fairly.

• Launching a real-time transparency portal (MAP) using AI to help the public track how the city spends money.

• Supporting early voting and same-day voter registration to improve participation in elections.

Malave-Perez in the Community

Many people call him “Ish”. He is active on social media, including Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). Supporters say he is practical, data-driven, and cares about facts over slogans. He wants government to work for the people—not politics.

Race and Rivals

Malave-Perez is one of four Democratic candidates running for NYC Comptroller. His opponents are Justin Brannan, Mark Levine, and Kevin Parker. The winner of the June 24 primary will move on to the general election on November 4, 2025.