Herman Badillo

Herman Badillo (born August 21, 1929 in Caguas, Puerto Rico) was the first Puerto Rican to become a U.S. Congressman.

Related Topics:
August 21 - 1929 - Caguas, Puerto Rico - Puerto Rican - U.S. Congressman

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When Badillo was 11 years old, both 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, Badillo attended and earned a Bachelors degree from the City College of New York in 1951. In 1954, he received a L.L.B. from Brooklyn Law School. The following year he was admitted to the New York State Bar. In 1956, he became a certified public accountant. In 1958, Badillo joined the "Caribe Democratic Club" and ever since then he has held various offices within the city and state, including Bronx Borough President in 1965. Prior to becoming Borough President, he served as New York Commissioner of Housing Preservation and Development.

Related Topics:
Tuberculosis - New York City - Public school - City College of New York - 1951 - 1954 - Brooklyn Law School - 1956 - Certified public accountant - 1958 - Caribe - Democratic - Bronx - Borough President - 1965

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He unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York in 1969, 1973 and 1977, coming closest on his second try when he was defeated by Abe Beame in a runoff primary.

Related Topics:
1969 - 1973 - 1977 - Abe Beame

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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 in history to accomplish this feat. He was reelected for three consecutive terms after that. He gained a seat on the Committee on Education and Labor. Through his efforts, job training for unemployed non-English speaking citizens were included in the "Comprehensive Manpower Act of 1973".

Related Topics:
1970 - United States House of Representatives - South Bronx - Committee on Education and Labor - English - 1973

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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.

Related Topics:
Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs Committee - Small Business Committee

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Badillo also supported legislation intended to fight various forms of discrimination including age and marital status discrimination in employment. 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.

Related Topics:
December 31 - 1977 - Deputy mayor - Ed Koch - September - 1979

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In 1986, Badillo was the Democratic Nominee for New York State Comptroller, losing to Republican incumbent Edward Regan.

Related Topics:
1986 - Edward Regan

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In 1993, Badillo, though still a Democrat, ran for Comptroller of New York City on a "fusion" ticket with Republican Rudy Giuliani. Although Giuliani won the mayoral election, Badillo lost the Comptroller's race to Democratic candidate Alan Hevesi. Badillo held a series of positions with the Giuliani administration, where he served as the mayor's special counsel on education policy and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the City University of New York.

Related Topics:
1993 - "fusion" - Rudy Giuliani - Alan Hevesi - City University of New York

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In the late 1990s, Badillo formally joined the Republican Party and ran for mayor of New York City, losing the 2001 Republican primary to eventual victor Michael Bloomberg.

Related Topics:
1990 - Republican Party - 2001 - Michael Bloomberg

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Herman Badillo is now dedicated to his law practice in New York.

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Some of the publications by Herman Badillo are: "A Bill of No Rights: Attica and the American Prison System" (1972) and "Plain Talk" (1981). There is a school in Buffalo, New York called P.S. 76 Herman Badillo Community School.

Related Topics:
1972 - 1981 - Buffalo, New York

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