Herman Badillo

Herman Badillo
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 21st district
In office January 3, 1973 – December 31, 1977
Preceded by	James H. Scheuer
Succeeded by	Robert Garcia
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 22nd district
In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1973
Preceded by	Jacob H. Gilbert
Succeeded by	Jonathan B. Bingham
8th Borough President of The Bronx
In office 1966–1970
Preceded by	Joseph F. Periconi
Succeeded by	Robert Abrams
Personal details
Born	(1929-08-21) August 21, 1929 Caguas, Puerto Rico
Nationality	United States
Political party	Democrat
Alma mater	Brooklyn Law School City College of New York
Occupation	Lawyer
Religion	Baptist

Herman Badillo (born August 21, 1929) is a Riverdale, Bronx, New York politician who has been a borough president, United States Representative, and candidate for Mayor of New York City. He was the first Puerto Rican to be elected to these posts and be a mayoral candidate in the continental United States.

Early years

Badillo was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico. When he was 11 years old, both of his parents died of tuberculosis and he was sent to live with his aunt in New York City. After graduating from the public school system at Haaran High School,^[1] Badillo attended and earned a Bachelor's degree from the City College of New York in 1951. In 1954, he received an LL.B. from Brooklyn Law School graduating first in his class. The next year he was admitted to the New York State Bar. In 1956, he also became a certified public accountant.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

Early political career

In 1958, Badillo joined the "Caribe Democratic Club" and has since then held various offices within the City and State, including Bronx Borough President in 1966. Prior to becoming the Borough President, he served as New York Commissioner of Housing Preservation and Development.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

Upon entrance to his role as Bronx Borough President in January 1966, Badillo was met with the ongoing advocacy for the preservation of Bronx Borough Hall as a landmark, led by prior Bronx Borough President, Joseph F. Periconi. Periconi, in his final months in office in 1965, along with several historians successfully attained landmark status for the building on October of that year, which was bestowed upon by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. It was then placed under final review by the Board of Estimate of New York City. On January 27, 1966, the last day of the 90 day review, the Board deferred to Badillo's view on the matter, since he was the new incumbent. The Board voted to revoke the landmark status on the historical building.^[12] A mysterious fire then burned part of the interior in 1968. Though still repairable, it was demolished in 1969.

U.S. House of Representatives

In 1970, Badillo was elected to the United States House of Representatives from New York's 21st District in the South Bronx, thus becoming the first Puerto Rican to so serve. He was also re-elected for three subsequent consecutive terms. He was also a member of the Committee on Education and Labor.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

In 1976 he was challenged by South Bronx Councilman Ramon Velez in a contest for the Democratic Party nomination for Congressman of the 21st District. Badillo, however, was reelected easily with 75 percent of the vote. In December of that year, he was one of the five Latino members of Congress who established the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]} Largely by his efforts, job training for unemployed non-English speaking citizens were included in the "Comprehensive Manpower Act of 1973".

Badillo also served on the Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs Committee, and the Small Business Committee where he had a seat on the Minority Enterprise and General Oversight Sub-committee. During his time in office he supported legislation intended to counteract various types of discrimination including age and marital status discrimination in employment.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

Although he would later become a vociferous opponent of bilingual education, as a congressman Badillo was one of the first champions of funding for bilingual education programs. Some proponents of bilingual and ESL education, and opponents of English immersion, have attacked Badillo for his newfound opposition to Spanish-language teaching. He was also a critical player in the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act and the inclusion of its language access provisions. During his tenure in Congress, he became an important national spokesperson for federal investment in urban centers.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

Mayoral campaigns

He sought unsuccessfully the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York in 1969, 1973, 1977, 1981 and 1985, coming closest on his second try, when he was defeated by then-New York City comptroller Abe Beame in a runoff primary. In 2001, Badillo unsuccessfully sought the Republican mayoral nomination, losing badly to billionaire businessman and political neophyte Michael Bloomberg, who would later prevail in the general election.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

Deputy Mayor of New York City

Badillo resigned from Congress on December 31, 1977 to become deputy mayor of New York City under Mayor Ed Koch, a position he held until September 1979. Badillo was one of seven deputy mayors appointed by Koch for the first portion of his administration. As a deputy mayor, Badillo handled labor relations and community outreach for Koch. In a major public disagreement with Mayor Koch over the lack of support for his program to revitalize the South Bronx, Badillo resigned his post. Some argue that Badillo made a major career mistake in giving up his Congressional post for this appointed position under Mayor Koch.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

Post City Hall career and State Comptroller campaign

After leaving City Hall, Badillo worked as an attorney in New York City. He supported Mario Cuomo for governor over Koch during the 1982 Democratic Primary. In late 1983 Cuomo appointed Badillo Chairman of the State of New York Mortgage Agency. In 1985 Badillo considered a bid for mayor against Koch in the Democratic Primary. In 1986, Badillo was the Democratic nominee for New York State Comptroller, losing to Republican incumbent Edward Regan. During these years Badillo was also active in Presidential politics, supporting Alan Cranston for the Democratic Presidential Nomination in 1984 and Michael Dukakis in 1988.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

City Comptroller campaign

In 1993, Badillo, though still a Democrat, campaigned for Comptroller of New York City on a "fusion" basis with Republican Rudy Giuliani. He also sought the Democratic nomination, but finished third, behind Alan Hevesi and the incumbent Comptroller, Elizabeth Holtzman. For the general election, Badillo running on the Republican and Liberal party lines, was defeated by Hevesi.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

Giuliani Administration and CUNY Chairmanship

Badillo had a series of jobs with the Giuliani administration, he serving as the mayor's Special Counsel on education policy and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the City University of New York.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

In his capacity as Giuliani's education advisor, Badillo advocated increased Mayoral control of the public schools and a revamped curriculum; he was also Giuliani's liaison to the City's Board of Education. As CUNY Chairman, Badillo organized a successful effort to end open enrollment and revamp the curriculum. These actions gained him some support among conservatives, but alienated him from the mainstream of the Puerto Rican political leadership, which had been his traditional base.

In 1999, Badillo's remarks about Latino immigrants ignited calls for his dismissal.^[13]

Republican Party switch and 2001 Mayoral campaign

During the late 1990s, Badillo formally joined the Republican Party. He resigned as education special counsel and CUNY Chairman when he announced his candidacy for Mayor in 2001. Despite his strong support of Mayor Giuliani, Badillo never received serious support from Giuliani or the Republican Party during his bid for Mayor, losing badly the Republican primary to billionaire Michael Bloomberg, who had just switched from Democrat to Republican, as Badillo had done earlier.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

Publications and Buffalo, NY School

• Milton Haynes. "A Bill of No Rights: Attica and the American Prison System" (New York: Outerbridge and Lazard, Inc., 1972)
• "Plain Talk: The Politics of Administration" (Greenvale, N.Y.: Department of Health and Public Administration, C.W. Post Center, Long Island University, c1981)
• "One Nation, One Standard: An Ex-Liberal on How Hispanics Can Succeed Just Like Other Immigrant Groups" (New York: Sentenil, 2006).

There is a school in Buffalo, New York called P.S. 76 Herman Badillo Community School.

Current career

Badillo is now dedicated to his law practice in New York. In 2005 he became "of counsel" to the New York City law firm of Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Cannavo P.C. In 2006, he joined the conservative Manhattan Institute of Policy Research as a senior fellow.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]} In January 2011, Badillo joined national personal injury law firm Parker Waichman Alonso as a senior counsel in its New York office.^[14]

New book

His first published book, written at age 77 and released on December 28, 2006, One Nation, One Standard: An Ex-Liberal on How Hispanics Can Succeed Just Like Other Immigrant Groups, Penguin (December 28, 2006), hardcover, 256 pages, ISBN 1-59523-019-X, ISBN 978-1-59523-019-5, generated major controversy within the Latino community before it was even published because of an inflammatory article in the New York Post (Dec. 19, 2006, p. 8) announcing its release. In the book, Badillo criticizes what he perceives as a lax work ethic among Hispanics, who he contends do not value education as much as other historically impoverished, but successful, immigrants, such as Asian-Americans.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

In contrast to the support he gave to bi-lingual education during his early career, his book attacks what he describes as obstacles to assimilation, such as bilingual education, and urges Hispanics to eschew government solutions and adopt instead the cultural values that have made previous generations of American immigrants prosperous and successful. His view is that Hispanics will soon make up 25% of the population of the United States and that their failure to excel would be tragic for them and the nation.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

NYS and NYC tickets Herman Badillo ran on

1986 NYS Democratic Ticket

• Governor: Mario Cuomo
• Lieutenant Governor: Stan Lundine
• Comptroller: Herman Badillo
• Attorney General: Robert Abrams
• U.S. Senate: Mark J. Green

1993 NYC Republican and Liberal ticket

• Mayor: Rudy Giuliani
• Public Advocate: Susan Alter
• Comptroller: Herman Badillo

See also

• List of famous Puerto Ricans

References

External links

• "Of Counsel Profile" - biography on law firm website
• Hispanic Americans in Congress--Badillo
• Puerto Rico Herald: Puerto Rico Profile: Herman Badillo
• New York City Campaign Finance Board: The 2001 Voter Guides
• Badillo for Mayor Endorsement by the New York Press.
• Manhattan Institute Scholar Herman Badillo
• Badillo Lashes Latinos
• Badillo Is Said to Be Switching to the Republicans
• The best candidate won't win this time by George Will
• Stalled in America (Why one Hispanic immigrant is being trashed for his blueprint for success)

• Herman Badillo at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress