Roy M. Goodman: Difference between revisions
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==Role in the 1990 NYS Governors' Race== |
==Role in the 1990 NYS Governors' Race== |
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Goodman is notorious among New York Republicans for his role in picking [[Pierre Rinfret]], the Republican Party's candidate for New York State governor in 1990. State Republicans had difficulty in finding a candidate to run against the Democratic incumbent Mario Cuomo, who was considered unbeatable. Goodman checked his [[Rolodex]] and found Rinfret, whom he knew socially.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/07/nyregion/1990-elections-new-york-cuomo-s-re-election-unchallenged-victor-mismatched-race.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all New York Times (November 7, 1990) "The 1990 Elections: New York-Cuomo's Re-election Unchallenged Victor; A Mismatched Race Against Rinfret Left the Governor Largely Untested"]</ref> Goodman picked Rinfret because he was pro-choice on abortion and, as a millionaire economist, could spend some of his own money on the campaign. Rinfret's campaign quickly became a disaster and a national laughing-stock for the Republicans. He often made angry outbursts and bitterly attacked his fellow Republicans. On Election Day, Rinfret received about 21 vote and barely outpolled [[Herb London]] the candidate of the NYS Conservative Party. |
Goodman is notorious among New York Republicans for his role in picking [[Pierre Rinfret]], the Republican Party's candidate for New York State governor in 1990. State Republicans had difficulty in finding a candidate to run against the Democratic incumbent Mario Cuomo, who was considered unbeatable. Goodman checked his [[Rolodex]] and found Rinfret, whom he knew socially.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/07/nyregion/1990-elections-new-york-cuomo-s-re-election-unchallenged-victor-mismatched-race.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all New York Times (November 7, 1990) "The 1990 Elections: New York-Cuomo's Re-election Unchallenged Victor; A Mismatched Race Against Rinfret Left the Governor Largely Untested"]</ref> Goodman picked Rinfret because he was pro-choice on abortion and, as a millionaire economist, could spend some of his own money on the campaign. Rinfret's campaign quickly became a disaster and a national laughing-stock for the Republicans. He often made angry outbursts and bitterly attacked his fellow Republicans. On Election Day, Rinfret received about 21 vote and barely outpolled [[Herb London]] the candidate of the NYS Conservative Party. |
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==As New York County Republican Chairman== |
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In 1981, Goodman became the chairman of the New York County Republican Party. In his first decade as chairman, the only other Republican elected official from Manhattan was liberal Congressman Bill Green. In 1989, Goodman defied U.S. Senator [[Alfonse D'Amato]] and endorsed [[Rudolph Giuliani]] for mayor. D'Amato and his Republican allies in the city such as [[Guy Velella]] and [Serph Maltese]] endorsed billionaire [[Ron Lauder]] in the Republican primary. Giuliani won the primary, but the negative campaign Lauder waged, damaged the former prosecutor in the general election. Giuliani lost the election to Democrat [[David Dinkins]]. Goodman supported Giuliani in his successful mayoral campaign in 1993 and then his re-election in 1997. |
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Goodman's tenure in the 1990s witnessed the expansion and then the contraction of the Republican Party in Manhattan. In 1990, Republican [[John Ravitz]] was elected to the NYS Assembly. In 1991, [[Charles Millard]] was elected to the New York City Council. In 1993, [[Andrew Eristoff]] also won election to the Council. |
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In 1992, Bill Green was ousted by Carolyn Maloney, who has been in Congress ever since. Millard attempted to win back the seat for Republicans in 1994, but he was soundly defeated. Both Millard and Eristoff eventually left the City Council, and their seats were won by Democrats. In 2002, Ravitz ran for Goodman's seat in a special election, but lost to [[Liz Krueger]]. Ravitz decided not to seek re-election to the Assembly, and a Democrat took his seat. |
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Goodman himself was nearly defeated in 2000 by Liz Krueger. At first, Krueger was leading Goodman by several hundred votes. After a recount and the counting of the absentee ballots, Goodman was declared the winner in late December. Goodman resigned from the State Senate in early 2002. |
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In the last decade, no other Republican has been elected to office in Manhattan. |
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==Other service== |
==Other service== |
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Revision as of 06:15, 26 November 2009
Roy M. Goodman (born 1930) is an American politician. He was born in New York City and is the grandson of Israel Matz, founder of the Ex-Lax company.
Political career
Goodman was the New York City Director of Finance in 1966 and 1967 and Chairman of the New York Republican County Committee from 1981 to 2001.
He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1969 to 2002.[1]. He served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Investigations, Taxation and Government Operations[2]. He was considered a leader of the liberal Rockefeller wing of the New York State Republican Party. His admirers called him "The Statesman of the State Senate."
In 1977, Goodman ran for Mayor of New York City. He defeated Barry Farber, a talk radio host in the Republican primary. In the general election, Goodman finished third behind Democratic Congressman Edward I. Koch and New York Secretary of State Mario Cuomo, a Democrat who ran on the Liberal Party ticket.
Role in the 1990 NYS Governors' Race
Goodman is notorious among New York Republicans for his role in picking Pierre Rinfret, the Republican Party's candidate for New York State governor in 1990. State Republicans had difficulty in finding a candidate to run against the Democratic incumbent Mario Cuomo, who was considered unbeatable. Goodman checked his Rolodex and found Rinfret, whom he knew socially.[3] Goodman picked Rinfret because he was pro-choice on abortion and, as a millionaire economist, could spend some of his own money on the campaign. Rinfret's campaign quickly became a disaster and a national laughing-stock for the Republicans. He often made angry outbursts and bitterly attacked his fellow Republicans. On Election Day, Rinfret received about 21 vote and barely outpolled Herb London the candidate of the NYS Conservative Party.
As New York County Republican Chairman
In 1981, Goodman became the chairman of the New York County Republican Party. In his first decade as chairman, the only other Republican elected official from Manhattan was liberal Congressman Bill Green. In 1989, Goodman defied U.S. Senator Alfonse D'Amato and endorsed Rudolph Giuliani for mayor. D'Amato and his Republican allies in the city such as Guy Velella and [Serph Maltese]] endorsed billionaire Ron Lauder in the Republican primary. Giuliani won the primary, but the negative campaign Lauder waged, damaged the former prosecutor in the general election. Giuliani lost the election to Democrat David Dinkins. Goodman supported Giuliani in his successful mayoral campaign in 1993 and then his re-election in 1997.
Goodman's tenure in the 1990s witnessed the expansion and then the contraction of the Republican Party in Manhattan. In 1990, Republican John Ravitz was elected to the NYS Assembly. In 1991, Charles Millard was elected to the New York City Council. In 1993, Andrew Eristoff also won election to the Council.
In 1992, Bill Green was ousted by Carolyn Maloney, who has been in Congress ever since. Millard attempted to win back the seat for Republicans in 1994, but he was soundly defeated. Both Millard and Eristoff eventually left the City Council, and their seats were won by Democrats. In 2002, Ravitz ran for Goodman's seat in a special election, but lost to Liz Krueger. Ravitz decided not to seek re-election to the Assembly, and a Democrat took his seat.
Goodman himself was nearly defeated in 2000 by Liz Krueger. At first, Krueger was leading Goodman by several hundred votes. After a recount and the counting of the absentee ballots, Goodman was declared the winner in late December. Goodman resigned from the State Senate in early 2002.
In the last decade, no other Republican has been elected to office in Manhattan.
Other service
Goodman is President and CEO of the United Nations Development Corporation, a position he first occupied in 2002.
He is a Fellow For Life of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a patron of the Metropolitan Opera, a Patron of the New York Philharmonic Society, president of the Goodman Family Foundation, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Notes
- ^ Ramirez, Anthony: "Goodman, Ex-Senator, Is Hospitalized After Choking", The New York Times, March 12, 2008, 2:43 pm [1]
- ^ John T. Woolley and Gerhard Peters: "Nomination of Roy M. Goodman To Be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation",'The American Presidency Project', 14 February 1989 [2]
- ^ New York Times (November 7, 1990) "The 1990 Elections: New York-Cuomo's Re-election Unchallenged Victor; A Mismatched Race Against Rinfret Left the Governor Largely Untested"
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