Helen Marshall

Helen Marshall
18th Borough President of Queens
Incumbent
Assumed office
2002
Preceded by Claire Shulman
Member of the New York City Council from the 21st District
In office
1992–2001
Preceded by Walter McCaffrey
Succeeded by Hiram Monserrate
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 35th district
In office
1983–1991
Preceded by John Lopresto
Succeeded by Jeffrion Aubry
Personal details
Born 1929 (age 82–83)[1]
Bronx, New York
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Donald Marshall
Children two, Donald Jr. and Agnes Marie
Alma mater Queens College
Website Official website

Helen M. Marshall (born 1929)[1][2] is the 18th Borough President of Queens, first elected in November 2001,[3] to succeed the term-limited Claire Shulman. She is the first African American woman elected as Queens Borough President, and as of 2010 she is the only sitting African American Borough President.

Prior to being elected Borough President, Marshall served on the New York City Council from 1992 to 2001, an office she vacated due to term limits. Prior to being a city councilwoman, Marshall served for nine years in the New York State Assembly. In both the City Council and State Assembly, Marshall represented Queens.

As Borough President, Marshall has made marketing Queens as a tourist destination one of her priorities.

In 2005 Marshall won a second term, defeating her Republican and Conservative challenger Philip T. Sica with 75% of the vote to his 25%. She was inaugurated to her second term as President of the Borough of Queens on January 3, 2006 in a ceremony held at Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Marshall outlined her plans for the next four years including health care, education, housing and new park projects.

On July 1, 2009 she appointed Dennis M. Walcott to the reconstituted New York City Board of Education. The Board then voted to name Walcott as president of the board.[4]

In November 2009, Marshall was re-elected to a third term.[3]

Marshall was born in the Bronx.[5] She received a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Queens College. She was teacher for eight years. In 1969, she left teaching to become the first Director of the Langston Hughes Library. Helen Marshall is married to Donald Marshall and they have two children, Donald Jr. and Agnes Marie.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Kershaw, Sarah (September 4, 2001). "In Queens, a Spirited Race For Its Borough Presidency". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/04/nyregion/in-queens-a-spirited-race-for-its-borough-presidency.html. Retrieved March 1, 2011. "Ms. Marshall, 71, a former teacher, ..." 
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ a b c "Biography of Helen M. Marshall". Office of the Queens Borough President. http://www.queensbp.org/content_web/Press/press_bio.shtml. Retrieved March 1, 2011. 
  4. ^ Neidl, Phoebe. "Mayoral Control Expires: Brooklyn’s Carlo Scissura Appointed to ‘Temporary’ Board of Education". Brooklyn Eagle. July 1, 2009.
  5. ^ Bilefsky, Dan. "In Queens, a Lament That the Borough Is Shortchanged". The New York Times. January 26, 2011

External links

New York Assembly
Preceded by
John Lopresto		 New York State Assembly, 35th District
1983–1991		 Succeeded by
Jeffrion Aubry
Political offices
Preceded by
Walter McCaffrey		 New York City Council, 21st District
1992–2001		 Succeeded by
Hiram Monserrate
Preceded by
Claire Shulman		 Borough President of Queens
2002–present		 Incumbent