By Bobby Feingold
As phones ring with urgency in the Miami-Dade district office, Northeastern alumnus Gilberto Osorio is busy negotiating federal matters with constituents. As part of the “eyes and ears” for Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Melbourne), who is running for re-election this year against Republican candidate Katherine Harris, Osorio is in constant meetings with government representatives, community leaders and other elected officials vying for his time.
But as Osorio interacts with his own staff, he said it’s hard to believe that only four years ago he entered Northeastern as a student who “didn’t care much for politics.”
Born and raised in Miami until the age of 18, it wasn’t until his sophomore year in college that he transferred to Northeastern. Originally a human services major, Osorio was first introduced to the world of politics in a Latin American politics class.
“I took a couple more classes, fell in love with the political science department and professors at Northeastern and found my passion,” Osorio said.
Osorio’s parents immigrated from Cuba as children, but their political alignment differed. Demographically, Cuban-Americans traditionally vote Republican, he said. But Osorio’s father, a lifelong Republican, and his mother, a lifelong Democrat, never established partisanship within their son.
“They wanted me to feel things out for myself,” he said. “I was able to develop my own value system and opinions of how government should be. Once I started studying at Northeastern, I realized many of the things I thought were important- taking care of the environment, helping out our neighbors- coincided with Democratic beliefs. If they would have indoctrinated me, I never would have found my passion.”
Though he never participated in Northeastern’s co-op program, the 2004 graduate took part in other experiential programs. Between his sophomore and junior year, Osorio interned in Congress under a Republican congresswoman.
“It taught me to be less partisan. I really grew to respect her,” Osorio said. “I learned about the government and how it works. It’s one thing to sit in a classroom and study about politics in theory, but until you understand the application as well as the theory, you don’t see the full picture.”
He also studied abroad in Belgium, working in the European Parliament during the months leading up to the war in Iraq.
“It gave me a more global perspective. I was able to see what the world really had to say about America’s standpoint,” he said.
By far the youngest regional director on Sen. Nelson’s staff, Osorio, 23, first made political connections while volunteering on Sen. John Kerry’s presidential campaign. Through a colleague with whom he worked, Osorio was recommended for Nelson’s Miami-Dade region, the largest of Florida’s counties.
“It was pretty intimidating,” Osorio said of his interview with the senator, his Chief of Staff and his family.
Out of the four other nominations, Osorio got the job.
When asked about his future plans, Osorio became hesitant.
“I’m a five-year plan kind of guy,” Osorio said. “After Nelson wins re-election in 2006, I want to get a law degree and joint masters in public policies. If I feel I gained enough expertise, I would throw my hat into the ring back in Miami. There’s so much that needs to be done here.”
Although Osorio said he always saw himself working in politics, he didn’t expect to be involved so soon.
“My gut told me I needed more education before thrusting myself into the real world of politics, perhaps grad school and teaching for a couple years. But now that I’m doing it, the nature of the work forces you to learn as you go,” he said.
Of all his tasks, Osorio said he appreciates the day-to-day working with people the most.
“It’s a beautiful thing,” Osorio said of his work. “People come into my office all the time with their problems. They are at their wit’s end. They’ve exhausted all their other options. And we are solving people’s problems. It’s government in action.”
