Nelson Antonio Denis

Nelson Antonio Denis
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 68th district
In office
January 1, 1997 – January 1, 2001
Personal details
Alma mater Harvard College
Yale Law School

Nelson Antonio Denis (born 1955) is a former New York politician who represented East Harlem in the New York State Assembly.

Contents

Early life

Denis was born and raised in New York City.[1] After graduating from Harvard College and Yale Law School, he was an attorney with the New York firm of Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Irvine.[2]

Journalism

Prior to entering politics, Denis was an editorial writer [3] for El Diario La Prensa, the largest Spanish-language newspaper in New York City. While writing for El Diario, Denis published over 300 editorials and received the “Best Editorial Writing Award” from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.[4] In addition, Denis published feature articles, book and film reviews, and editorials in the Harvard Political Review,[5] Daily News,[6][7][8] New York Newsday,[9] and The New York Sun. [10]

Public life

Denis was involved in New York State politics for fourteen years. In 1996 he won a seat in the New York State Assembly, where he served as a Democrat for two terms, from 1997 to 2001.[2] He was also a New York State Democratic District Leader from 1995 to 2000.

In 1991 he ran unsuccessfully for the City Council,[11] and made an unsuccessful bid for the state assembly in 1992.[12]

In 1994 he ran unsuccessfully for the State Assembly with support of the Latin Kings youth gang, which the New York Times said "raised eyebrows."[13] His opponent, incumbent Angelo Del Toro, made his use of the gang a campaign issue, saying "It's nasty -- they're gangsters and a threat." Denis said the Kings were misunderstood youths trying to overcome immense disadvantages.[14]

In 1995, prior to election to the Assembly, Denis then deputy director of Yucahu Inc., an East Harlem community group, opposed the merger of Chemical Bank and Chase because of inadequate service to the community.[15][16][17]

In 1996, Denis defeated the incumbent, Francisco Diaz Jr., in the 68th Assembly district. Diaz had had the support of Manhattan elected officials, including Rep. Charles Rangel.[18] In the assembly, Denis worked to increase bank lending to the East Harlem community.[19]

In his unsuccessful 1992 and 1994 campaign for the state assembly, and 2000 reelection campaign, Denis was endorsed by The New York Times, which in 2000 called his effort to increase lending to East Harlem "admirable."[12][19][20] The Times endorsed his opponent Francisco Diaz Jr. in a special election in 1995, and again in 1996.[21][22] In a 2004 Senate race, the Times endorsed his opponent, Jose Serrano.[23]

In his bid for a third term in 2000, Denis was defeated by Adam Clayton Powell IV in the Democratic primary. Powell charged during the campaign that Denis had neglected the district. Denis had backed an attempt this year to overthrow the Assembly speaker, Sheldon Silver, and Silver exacted revenge in the primary, refusing to give Denis financial and organizational support.[24]

In 2004, Denis unsuccessfully ran for the state senate seat held by state Senator Olga A. Mendez. During the campaign, supporters of his opponent in the Democratic primary contended that Denis made inappropriate use of campaign funds, which Denis denied.[25]

In 2005, Denis ran for City Council and came in fourth in the Democratic primary.[26]

Vote For Me!

In 2001, Denis wrote and directed the feature film Vote for Me!, a political comedy about a 75-year old Puerto Rican superintendent who runs for U.S. Congress. The film stars Malik Yoba, Ángel Salazar, and Ricardo Barber and is based on Denis's own experiences.[3][27][28]

Vote for Me! premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2003. It won the Best Picture Award at the 2009 SINY Film Festival, and a Best Feature Film Award at the 2009 Orlando Hispanic Film Festival.[29][30]

The New York Times said that the film blurred "the line between reality and fiction to capture the spectacle of New York City politics. One character is a big-name Democratic Party candidate who bears a certain resemblance to Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV, who defeated Denis in the 2000 Democratic primary. And a provocative black candidate in the film, although portrayed as a woman, may just remind New Yorkers of the Rev. Al Sharpton." [3][27][28][31][32][33][34][35][36]

See also

Puerto Rico portal
Biography portal
Literature portal

References

  1. ^ http://www.congress.org/election/candidate/id/186808
  2. ^ a b Hicks, Jonathan, (8/15/2000), Power of Incumbency Vies With a Household Name, The New York Times, http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9406E2D7113FF936A2575BC0A9669C8B63
  3. ^ a b c Navarro, Mireya, (5/6/03), Smile, You're on Candidate Camera: With an Insider's Eye, a Film Skewers Harlem Politics, The New York Times, http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02E4DF113CF935A35756C0A9659C8B63
  4. ^ Manhattan Times News
  5. ^ Harvard Political Review, Spring 1977, The Curious Constitution of Puerto Rico
  6. ^ Denis, Nelson (4 March 2010). "Lift the cap on charters". Daily News (New York). http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/03/05/2010-03-05_lift_the_cap_on_charters.html. 
  7. ^ Denis, Nelson, (4/12/05), Late blooming woes to plague on-time budget, New York Daily News, http://finance.tc-library.org/Content.asp?uid=1048
  8. ^ Denis, Nelson, (9/23/99), History still roils Puerto Rico, New York Daily News
  9. ^ Denis, Nelson, (1/22/07), Reforming Albany takes more than talk, New York Newsday
  10. ^ Denis, Nelson, (12/21/06), Albany's Political Club, New York Sun, http://www.nysun.com/opinion/albanys-political-club/45540/
  11. ^ "VOTER'S GUIDE: THE NEW YORK CITY PRIMARY; O.K., It's Not November. But It Is Time to Vote.". The New York Times. Sept, 11, 1994. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30A12FA345C0C728DDDA00894DC494D81. Retrieved 15 December 2010. 
  12. ^ a b "For Assembly: Manhattan, Queens". The New York Times. September 10, 1992. http://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/10/opinion/for-assembly-manhattan-queens.html. 
  13. ^ "Bid With Gang Aid Is Lost". The New York Times: p. 6. 14 September 1994. http://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/14/nyregion/bid-with-gang-aid-is-lost.html. Retrieved 15 December 2010. 
  14. ^ Martin, Douglas (September 13, 1994). "THE 1994 CAMPAIGN: EAST HARLEM; Legislative Candidate Turns to Gang for Help". The New York Times. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50C11FE3F5F0C708DDDA00894DC494D81. Retrieved 15 December 2010. 
  15. ^ Lavan, Rosemary Metzler, (11/17/95),Chase/Chem Face Music at Hearing, New York Daily News, http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/money/1995/11/17/1995-11-17_chase_chem_face_music_at_hea.html
  16. ^ Harrigan, Susan, (11/17/95), Minority Lending at Issue in Chemical-Chase Merger, New York Newsday
  17. ^ Smyth, Julie Carr, (8/30/95), Feds hear pro, con in Fleet Deal, Albany Times Union
  18. ^ Hicks, Jonathan P. (11 September 1996). "Roth Survives Burstein's Challenge in Surrogate Race". The New York Times: p. 5. http://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/11/nyregion/roth-survives-burstein-s-challenge-in-surrogate-race.html. Retrieved 15 December 2010. 
  19. ^ a b "Endorsements for the Legislature". The New York Times: p. 24. 31 August 2000. http://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/31/opinion/endorsements-for-the-legislature.html. Retrieved 15 December 2010. 
  20. ^ "New York City Primary Choices". The New York Times. September 13, 1994. http://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/13/opinion/new-york-city-primary-choices.html. Retrieved May 20, 2010. 
  21. ^ "clear pixel The Assembly Primaries". The New York Times. Sept. 5, 1996. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F5061EFA355C0C768CDDA00894DE494D81. Retrieved 15 December 2010. 
  22. ^ "For State Assembly: Francisco Diaz Jr.". The New York Times: p. 28. 10 March 1995. http://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/10/opinion/for-state-assembly-francisco-diaz-jr.html. Retrieved 15 December 2010. 
  23. ^ "Primary Endorsements; In Manhattan and the Bronx". The New York Times. Aug. 29, 2004. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70815F93A5A0C7A8EDDA10894DC404482. Retrieved 15 December 2010. 
  24. ^ Levy, Clifford J. (13 September 2000). "NEW YORK PRIMARY: THE LEGISLATURE; Most Incumbents Prevail Over Primary Challengers". The New York Times: p. 9. http://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/13/nyregion/new-york-primary-legislature-most-incumbents-prevail-over-primary-challengers.html?ref=nelson_antonio_denis. Retrieved 15 December 2010. 
  25. ^ Hicks, Jonathan P. (September 5, 2004). "Democrats Compete to Challenge Senator". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/05/nyregion/05mendez.html. Retrieved 15 December 2010. 
  26. ^ Hicks, Jonathan P. (Sept., 15, 2005). "THE NEW YORK PRIMARY: THE DYNASTY; Family Name In Brooklyn Loses Clout With Defeat". The New York Times: p. 2. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A00E3D71131F936A2575AC0A9639C8B63&scp=8&sq=Nelson%20Denis&st=cse. Retrieved 15 December 2010. 
  27. ^ a b Dominguez, Robert, (4/3/03), Ex-Politician Takes a Run at Directing, New York Daily News, http://www.voteforme-themovie.com/articles/dailynews.pdf
  28. ^ a b Tang, Jean, (10/25/03), Political themes abound in Latino film fest, The Boston Globe, http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2003/10/21/political_themes_abound_in_latino_film_fest/
  29. ^ http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/staten_islands_siny_film_festi.html
  30. ^ http://www.prlog.org/10365750-orlando-hispanic-film-festival-announces-2009-audience-award.html
  31. ^ The Leonard Lopate Show - WNYC (5/9/03), Nelson Denis and his debut film Vote For Me!, http://www.wnyc.org/go.py?r=http%3A//www.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/episodes/2003/05/09%23segment15471
  32. ^ Saade, Carmen Lira, (4/25/03), Ex Politico de Nueva York Estrena Pelicula, La Jornada, http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2003/04/25/18an1esp.php?origen=espectaculos.html
  33. ^ Proca, Alexandra, (2/10/04), Dark Comedies Featured at Film Festival, The Spartan Daily, http://media.www.thespartandaily.com/media/storage/paper852/news/2004/03/10/UndefinedSection/Dark-Comedies.Featured.At.Film.Festival-1498380.shtml
  34. ^ http://www.cinequest.org/event_view.php?eid=1203
  35. ^ http://www.cinemaartscentre.org/latino/lat_vote.html
  36. ^ http://www.east-harlem.com/mt/archives/000076.html

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Francisco Diaz (politician)		 New York State Assembly, 68th District
1997–2000		 Succeeded by
Adam Clayton Powell IV