From an early age, Darius was taught that if you work hard and do the right thing, that you can get ahead in life. He believes that America’s Promise is that America must work for working Americans. And today, Darius is running for Congress to Renew Upstate New York and Renew America’s Promise.
Darius has a strong belief that being in public service is about serving people and making their lives better. He has the most diverse and direct experience in the 21st Congressional District Democratic Primary, and is the candidate best suited to make the most difference in Washington for our families in Upstate New York. He has worked in the private and in the public sector; he’s worked in all branches of government: legislative, executive and judicial; and in all three levels of government: state, local and federal.
A first generation American, Darius grew up in Utica, New York, where he learned the values of responsibility, community, compassion, loyalty and hard work from his parents, his neighborhood and his community.
Darius graduated from New Hartford High School and went on to Bates College in Maine, where he received a Bachelors in American History.
During his school years, Darius worked a variety of jobs – from pumping gas, to waiting tables to custodial services. At one point, he even sold vacuum cleaners door-to-door. After college, Darius returned home to Upstate New York and worked for the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York where Darius represented disabled people before the Social Security Administration. This experience at Legal Aid, taught Darius how advocacy on behalf of people in need made real, positive differences in people’s lives. As a young man, working at Legal Aid was a turning point that gained him the inspiration to become an attorney to help make people’s lives better.
In 1994, Darius moved to Albany to attend Albany Law School. His first experience with elections was successful. In his First Year, Darius was elected President of his class, and in his second year, he was elected Student Bar President. He then went on to serve in the prestigious post of Editor-in-Chief of the Albany Law Review. During those years, Darius was fortunate to meet his future wife, Noelle Kinsch of Kingston, NY. He graduated Cum Laude winning the award for Student Service, and being selected as the Recent Graduate Trustee for the law school’s Board of Trustees.
Seeking policy experience, Darius was selected as a New York State Senate Fellow. He worked on a variety of issues for the Local Government Committee, including the first Smart Growth bill in New York State.
In 1999, Darius joined the local firm of Bouck, Holloway, Kiernan and Casey, (which later merged with Hiscock and Barclay) where he served as a litigator. In 2001, he accepted a clerkship in the New York State Appellate Court, and upon the expiration of the term, he joined the Albany County Attorney’s office under County Attorney Michael Lynch and County Executive Michael Breslin where he worked for over 6 years and served as Deputy County Attorney for County Attorney Kristina Burns handling a wide range of civil and criminal legal work for the taxpayers of Albany County.
In 2004, Darius took a leave of absence from Albany County and volunteered on John Kerry’s Presidential Campaign – where he served as the Regional Coordinator at the Coordinated Campaign’s Northern Virginia office. Returning home, Darius became a 7th Ward Democratic Committeeman for the Albany County Democratic Committee and joined the local grassroots organization Democracy for the Hudson-Mohawk Region.
But Darius’ most rewarding experience has been working for Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand and the people of the neighboring 20th Congressional District. Darius worked with her from the start of her campaign and, after her hard fought victory, joined her office as Capital District Representative. He administered Rep. Gillibrand’s Saratoga Springs office, tending to constituent concerns and issues in and around the region. Here he fought for veterans to get the benefits that they earned, for the disabled who were facing losing their homes and for seniors who are making choices between heating their homes and filling their prescriptions. Darius also worked on the Congresswoman’s Economic Development Projects, 21st-century job creation, and helped create policy through the creation of green-collar jobs in Upstate New York.
Darius is a homeowner and lives with his family in the heart of Albany. He is a devoted husband, father and neighbor. Together with his wife Noelle, a partner with an Albany Law Firm, they are raising their one-and-a-half year old son, Jackson, and are expecting their second child later this year. They are committed to their neighbors, from whom they receive some of their best support. It is with such strong neighborhood networks, he believes, that we are able to keep our neighborhoods safe, clean and prosperous.
Darius is admitted to both the New York and Massachusetts Bar, he serves on the Board of Directors of Saint Anne’s Institute, and he and Noelle are active volunteers for Equinox where she serves as Board President.
