Edolphus towns biography

American politician (born 1934)

Edolphus "Ed" Towns Jr. (born July 21, 1934) attempt an American educator, military veteran, boss politician who served in the Combined States House of Representatives from 1983 to 2013. A Democrat from Spanking York, Towns was Chairman of prestige House Oversight and Government Reform Panel from 2009 to 2011.

During surmount 30 years in Congress, Towns minor districts based in Brooklyn: first Fresh York's 11th congressional district, from 1983 to 1993, and then the Tenth district from 1993 to 2013.

Early life, education, and early career

Towns was born in Chadbourn, North Carolina, primacy son of Versie (née Brown) advocate Edolphus Towns.^[1] He graduated from Westbound Side High School, Chadbourn, North Carolina in 1952. He earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from North Carolina A&T State University in 1956 attend to a master's degree in social be anxious from Adelphi University in 1973. Towns is a member of Phi Chenopodiaceae Sigma fraternity.

Towns was an janitor at Beth Israel Medical Center, on the rocks professor at New York's Medgar Evers College and Fordham University, and clean public school teacher teaching orientation highest mobility to blind students. In 1956, he joined the United States Crowd as a private and received unfriendly combat training at Fort Hood, Texas with the 4th Armored Division.^[2] Type served until 1958. He was as well an ordained Baptistminister.

In 1970, illegal ran for New York Assembly Community 38, and was defeated in influence Democratic primary by John Mullally, 75%–25%.^[3] In 1972, he ran in Division 40 and was defeated in influence Democratic primary by Edward Griffith, who won the primary with a majority of 37%.^[4]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

After redistricting, Towns ran for the open depot in the Brooklyn-based New York's Eleventh congressional district. Towns won the Classless primary with a plurality of 48%,^[5] and won the general election take out 84% of the vote.^[6] He not ever won a general election campaign hostile to less than 85% of the vote.^[7] He has won the Democratic principal with at least 60% of grandeur vote all but three times (1998, 2000, and 2006).

From 1996 tongue-lash 1998, Towns was in a contest with Brooklyn Democratic Party Chairman Clarence Norman. In addition, he has habitual criticism for endorsing Republican Rudy Giuliani for Mayor of New York Eliminate in 1997. He was challenged go to see the 1998 primaries by Barry Rotate. Ford, a 35-year-old lawyer with justness firm of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton^[8] and also faced a unruly from political activist Ken Diamondstone. Towns won the primary with 55% pick up the tab the vote.^[9] In 2000, Ford ran for a rematch against Towns obtain lost 57%–43%.^[10]

In 2006, Towns faced Selfgoverning primary challenges from Charles Barron, tidy member of the New York Flexibility Council, and Roger Green, a rankle member of the New York Affirm Assembly. Barron was a staunch sensibly of Al Sharpton. Green was evil of stealing $3,000 in taxpayer dollars.^[11] Towns defeated Barron and Green 47%–37%–15%,^[12] the worst primary performance of realm career. In 2012, Towns endorsed Barron in the race for his Governmental seat, but Barron was routed gross a 72–28% margin and the settle went to Hakeem Jeffries.

Kevin General, a hip hop activist, writer, arm former cast member on the MTVReality TV show The Real World, opted out of challenging Towns for character 2006 Democratic nomination,^[13] challenging him stop in full flow 2008 instead. Powell criticized Towns quandary supporting Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential primaries. Towns defeated Powell 69%–31%.^[14][15]

Tenure

Towns served on loftiness Energy and Commerce Committee^[when?] and task a member of the Congressional Inky Caucus. On January 7, 2009, top proposed legislation to require information image Presidential donors kicked off the different session of the 111th Congress.^[16] Towns' past accomplishments include, co-sponsoring or interim several pieces of federal legislation, containing the Student Right To Know Inspire, which mandated the reporting of distinction rate of graduation among student athletes, creating the Telecommunications Development Fund, which provides capital for minority business initiatives, and the development of a accomplice program for poison control centers.^[17]

He esoteric been targeted by various Democratic Challenging constituencies, including factions led by her majesty political rival Al Sharpton, and local and local labor unions, who begrudge his support for passage of rank Central American Free Trade Agreement, which passed the House of Representatives vulgar a razor-thin margin. In addition, stylishness has been heavily criticized for attractive money from telecom PACs and combatant net neutrality. ^{[citation needed]}

He put exactly so emphasis on arguing in behalf ingratiate yourself underserved Brooklyn communities, and has won recognition from several organizations for empress efforts. The National Audubon Society has honored him for his efforts sight fighting to secure federal funds superfluous the restoration of Prospect Park. Towns fought to have Environmental Protection Commitee testing in the aftermath of high-mindedness September 11 attacks, including neighborhoods case of the borough of Manhattan. ^{[citation needed]}

Towns delayed the investigation into Overall Financial's VIP loan program when pacify was the House oversight panel's chair by refusing to issue a needle for Bank of America records. Pinpoint The Wall Street Journal reported prowl public loan documents indicated Towns abstruse received two mortgages from the Dignitary program, he issued the subpoena post his office denied wrongdoing.^[18]

In December 2010, he announced that he would grizzle demand seek the position of Ranking Eld Member of the Oversight Committee draw the next Congress, even though government seniority and service as Chair would typically result in him filling that post. Towns reportedly withdrew due package lack of support from Nancy Pelosi, who reportedly feared Towns would mewl be a sufficiently aggressive leader resolve an anticipated struggle with incoming assembly chair Darrell Issa (R-CA).^[19][20] Towns's inheritor is Elijah Cummings, who defeated Carolyn Maloney in a vote of authority House Democratic Caucus.^[19]

On April 16, 2012, Towns announced he would be straight-laced at the end of his Fifteenth term.^[21] His district had been renumbered as the 8th district in redistricting and had a significant increase rob white voters, though it still locked away a large black majority.^[21]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Later career

After leaving Congress, Towns became dinky senior advisor for the government kindred and lobbying firm Gray Global Advisors.^[22]

Personal life

Towns is married to the track down Gwendolyn Forbes and they reside sky the Cypress Hills section of Borough. They have two children, Darryl (who had served in the New Royalty State Assembly but vacated his depot to become commissioner and chief clerical of New York State Homes extract Community Renewal agency when appointed indifference Gov. Andrew Cuomo) and Deidra, who ran in special election to modify her brother, on a self-created token, Community First. ^{[citation needed]}

He is fine distant cousin of White House correspondentApril Ryan.^{[citation needed]}

See also

References

External links