Peter Fortunate Vallone Sr. (born December 13, 1934) is an American politician.

Peter Vallone Sr.
Speaker of the New York City Council
In office
January 1, 1990 – December 31, 2001
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byGifford Miller
Majority Leader of the New York City Council
In office
January 1, 1986 – December 31, 2001
Preceded byThomas J. Cuite
Succeeded byJoel Rivera
Member of the New York City Council
In office
January 1, 1974 – December 31, 2001
Preceded byThomas J. Cuite
Succeeded byPeter Vallone Jr.
Constituency20th district (1974–1991)
22nd district (1992–2001)
Personal details
Born
Peter Fortunate Vallone

(1934-12-13) December 13, 1934 (age 89)
New York City, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationFordham University (BS, LLB)

Background

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His father, Judge Charles J. Vallone (1901–1967) of the Queens County Civil Court, encouraged young Peter to broaden his horizons beyond the limited social interactions with other ethnic and religious groups that were discouraged in the pre-Vatican II era. His mother, Leah Palmigiano Vallone, was a teacher and a Democratic State Committeewoman.[1] With his wife, Tena, he has three children (Peter Jr., Paul, and Perry) and eight grandchildren.[2]

Education

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He attended Fordham University, where he received his BSS (1956) and his LLB (1959).

Political career

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A former Democratic New York City Councilman who represented Astoria, Queens, from 1974 to 2001, he was the second most powerful official in New York City's government after the mayor, when he became the city's first Speaker of the City Council in 1986.[3] He held that position until Gifford Miller took over in 2002.

Vallone drafted changes to the City Charter in 1989 that he claimed allowed the Council more say on the budget.

He was an unsuccessful candidate for governor in 1998 as the Democratic nominee receiving in total 1,570,317 votes or 33.16% of the electorate. Vallone was also notably the first ever candidate endorsed by the Working Families Party, with the party receiving 51,325 votes for Vallone via fusion voting.[4] Vallone also ran for mayor in 2001, placing third in the Democratic primary.

Later career

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Vallone currently teaches political science at Baruch College and his autobiography, Learning to Govern: My Life in New York Politics, From Hell Gate to City Hall, described his years in government. He practices law in Astoria with his son, Peter Vallone Jr., who succeeded him in the City Council in 2002. After he retired from politics, Peter Vallone Sr. founded a lobbying firm with a partner, Constantinople and Vallone [5]

In 2005, Vallone endorsed Republican Michael Bloomberg for Mayor of New York City. In 2009, he endorsed a former rival in the mayoral race, Mark Green, who attempted to win back the job of Public Advocate.[6]

Electoral history

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New York gubernatorial election, 1998
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican George Pataki 2,223,264 44.59%
Conservative George Pataki 348,727 6.99%
Total George Pataki (incumbent) 2,571,991 54.32% +5.53%
Democratic Peter Vallone, Sr. 1,518,992 30.47%
Working Families Peter Vallone, Sr. 51,325 1.03%
Total Peter Vallone, Sr. 1,570,317 33.16% −12.29%
Independence Tom Golisano 364,056 7.69% +3.51%
Liberal Betsy McCaughey 77,915 1.65% −0.12%
Right to Life Michael Reynolds 56,683 1.20% −0.10%
Green Al Lewis 52,533 1.11% N/A
Marijuana Reform Thomas K. Leighton 24,788 0.52% N/A
Unity Mary Alice France 9,692 0.21% N/A
Libertarian Chris Garvey 4,722 0.11% −0.07%
Socialist Workers Al Duncan 2,539 0.05% +0.01%
Blank – Void – Scattering 250,696 5.02% N/A
Majority 1,001,674 21.15% +17.81%
Turnout 4,985,932
Republican hold Swing

References

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  1. ^ Lukas, Paul (November 26, 2012). "Permanent Record: The orphan who became the matriarch of one of New York's most powerful political families". Slate.
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 15, 2007. Retrieved December 9, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "ValloneSr". Archived from the original on September 26, 2009. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
  4. ^ Meyerson, Harold (January 6, 2014). "Dan Cantor's Machine". The American Prospect. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  5. ^ "Peter Vallone Sr | Constantinople & Vallone Consulting LLC". Archived from the original on December 17, 2015.
  6. ^ "All's forgiven as Mark Green's 2001 foe Peter Vallone Sr. Endorses him". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on September 9, 2009. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
New York City Council
Preceded by Member of the New York City Council
from the 20th district

1974–1991
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the New York City Council
from the 22nd district

1992–2001
Succeeded by
Preceded by Majority Leader of the New York City Council
1986–2001
Succeeded by
New office Speaker of the New York City Council
1990–2001
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of New York
1998
Succeeded by