Howard Golden

Howard Golden (born 1925)[1] was the long-time Democratic borough president of Brooklyn serving from 1977 to December 31, 2001.

Howard Golden
Black and white photo, 1996
16th Brooklyn Borough President
In office January 3, 1977 – December 31, 2001
Preceded by	Sebastian Leone
Succeeded by	Marty Markowitz
Personal details
Born	1925 Flatbush, Brooklyn
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Aileen Wolsky
Residence	Borough Park, Brooklyn[1]
Alma mater	New York University, Brooklyn Law School
Profession	Lawyer, Politician

Personal life

Howard Golden was born in Flatbush, Brooklyn in 1925.[1] His father ran a delicatessen.[1] Howard grew up in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan and Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, and attended public schools.[1] He graduated from Stuyvesant High School, New York University, and attended Brooklyn Law School on the G.I. Bill, graduating in 1958.[1] He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and was part of the Normandy Invasion on June 6, 1944.[2]

Golden married Aileen Wolsky and has two daughters.[1]

Political life

Prior to becoming Brooklyn Borough President, Golden served as City Councilman for the Borough Park section of Brooklyn for almost seven years.[3]

In the November 1976 election, Brooklyn Borough President Sebastian Leone ran for a judicial seat on the New York Supreme Court instead of running for re-election as borough president.[3] He won, and resigned on December 31 to take his new position. The New York City Council selected Golden to serve as interim borough president until the next election.[4] Golden decided to run for the office in the following election, and in November 1977 he handily won a four-way race by a wide margin.[5]

Golden became the Kings County Democratic Leader following the retirement of Meade Esposito in 1984.

Throughout his career Golden held various party positions, including Chairman of the Kings County Democratic County Committee, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Kings County Democratic Party, member of the New York State Democratic Committee and member of the Democratic National Committee. Golden served as Democratic District Leader in Borough Park from 1966 until 1989 when the revision of the New York City Charter forced him to give up his district and county leadership positions. Golden's Roosevelt Democratic Club was one of the powerhouse Democratic organizations in New York City for several decades and was the political home to numerous elected officials, commissioners and judges.

Golden was a New York powerbroker and many of his political protégés achieved higher office through his personal intervention. Golden's two deputy borough presidents went on to higher office. Ed Towns went on to serve as the U.S. Congressman representing the western portion of Brooklyn and William C. Thompson, Jr. was the New York City comptroller. Thompson was the runner-up in the race for Mayor of New York in the 2009 election. Golden's female counterpart as Borough Park Democratic District Leader, Evelyn J. Aquila, served as vice chair of the New York State Democratic Party from 1982 to 1992 and has been one of the two Democratic Commissioners of the New York State Board of Elections since 1992, roles usually reserved for Democratic county leaders or former elected officials. Golden's successor as Brooklyn Borough President was Marty Markowitz, who had served for many years as the state senator representing Golden's home district. Golden had supported his Deputy Jeannette Gadson in that election.

References

1. Klein, Joe (20 Feb 1984). "The Golden Rule in Brooklyn". New York Magazine. pp. 36–. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
2. Morgan, Thomas (16 July 1988). "Golden Fights Koch and Threats to His Political Power".
3. Ranzal, Edward (4 December 1976). "Golden Quits City Council to Seek Borough Presidency in Brooklyn". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
4. "For Wagner, Golden, Biondolillo". The New York Times. 30 August 1977. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
5. "Borough President". The New York Times. 10 November 1977. Retrieved 21 May 2015.