Biography:

David R. DeCancio was elected to the town board and took office in January 2022.  David is the proud son of Cuban refugees and is the first Latino to ever be elected to the Bethlehem Town Board.

David’s commitment to community and public service is rooted in his desire to honor the sacrifices his parents made for him and his brother.  His mom instilled in him the importance of giving back, to repay this great country that gave their family hope and opportunity.  It is that sense of duty that has driven his volunteerism, which was recognized by the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce with its 2018 Community Spirit Award.  The award recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the quality of life here in Bethlehem and who serve as a role model for others as well as consistently giving of their time and expertise to benefit our neighbors and the community.

David’s community involvement has included: Bethlehem Opportunities Unlimited (BOU) Board Member, First Night Bethlehem organizing committee, St. Thomas Church Pastoral Care Ministry, Youth Soccer and Lacrosse Club Coach, Selkirk Fire District Building Committee, Community Representative, Bethlehem Pop Warner Board of Directors, BCSD Budget Think Tank Committee, Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) Advisory Board Member, Friends of Maple Ridge Park, the FBI Citiziens’ Academy and the Bethlehem Zoning Board of Appeals Member.

Throughout his two decades of community involvement David has taken great pride in being accessible and available to neighbors, community groups and local businesses.  As a member of the Town Board, he will continue rolling up his sleeves and working with, for, and alongside all residents to make Bethlehem a place we can all be proud to call home.

David is an accomplished public policy and communications strategist who earned a B.A. in Political Science from SUNY Plattsburgh and currently serves on the SUNY Plattsburgh Alumni Association Board of Directors.  He has served in various senior level positions in the NYS Assembly as well as in the Office of the Governor and was recognized as a 40 Under 40 “Rising Stars” Albany’s next generation of political leaders.  David currently serves as a Senior Advisor to New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.