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Dan Halloran

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Dan Halloran
Member of the New York City Council from the 19th District
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 2010
Preceded byTony Avella
Personal details
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Queens, New York, U.S.
Diedthumb
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Political partyRepublican
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ResidencesWhitestone, New York, U.S.
Alma materFordham University, Queens College, St. John's University School of Law
WebsiteProfile at New York City Council District 19 website

Dan Halloran is a Republican member of the New York City Council. He was also endorsed by the Libertarian, Independence and Conservative parties[1] in his 2009 election to the New York City Council. He represents the 19th District, in Queens. Elected on November 3, 2009,[2] he succeeded Tony Avella, who made a failed bid to become the Democratic nominee for mayor. As of 2009 he was reportedly the highest-elected person to have run on the Libertarian Party line in the United States.[3][dubious – discuss]

Halloran sits on the Fire & Criminal Justice, Public Safety, Land Use (including Landmarks, Public Siting & Maritime Uses sub-committee), Public Housing, and Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Disability Services committees.[4]

Theodism

His study of Norman and Viking archaeology and field research in Ireland led him to develop an interest in Germanic mythology and lore, and eventually to Theodism,[5] which has attracted widespread attention. He is a member of the New Normannii Reik of Theodish Belief, a branch of Germanic neopaganism.[6] The Village Voice described Halloran as "America's First Elected Heathen";[7] another Reconstructionist Neopagan adherent, Jessica Orsini (who is Hellenic), had previously been elected to the city council of Centralia, Missouri in 2006.[8]

Personal life

Halloran was raised in a "traditional Irish household" and was an attorney prior to running for office.[9] He earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from St. John's University Law School and a B.A. in history and anthropology from the City University of New York.

Halloran worked in the NYPD and several District Attorneys' offices before entering private practice as a lawyer in a firm with offices in Queens and Long Island. He has been of counsel to the New York City Patrolman's Benevolent Association, worked on the Felony Panel of the 18B Assigned Counsel Plan of NYC, and is a Court Designated Referee in the Queens Supreme Court.[10]

Political views

Halloran is a registered life-long Republican, a fiscal conservative and libertarian who opposes "Obamacare".[5] He has appeared as a regular commentator on the Strategy Room on Fox News[11] where he has discussed matters ranging from Healthcare reform to government spending, off-shore oil exploration, and other conservative and libertarian principles.[12]

He reportedly was asked to run for U.S. Congress in the 2010 election cycle in the 5th District of New York by Republican, Libertarian, and Conservative leaders.[13] Despite being courted by the NRCC and Congressman Peter King to run, he withdrew from consideration citing the economic crisis in the New York City and state budgets and the need to set the city's finances in order before he could consider taking on a run for any other office.[14]

Halloran became the first elected official in New York City to publicly criticize the Cordoba House Park 51 Mosque project near Ground Zero of the WTC site, "If we want a nation of peace", said Halloran, whose cousin, Lieutenant Vincent Halloran, an FDNY First Responder, died on 9/11 [citation needed], "then peace comes with understanding. And they need to understand that this is sacred ground to New Yorkers."[15] "New York City is the greatest city in the world [a place of religious tolerance, but that tolerance] starts when you say 'I understand your pain, and I am not going to inflict more on you", Halloran added, describing Ground Zero as "sacred ground to New Yorkers".[16]

Religion

Halloran's religion became an issue during the campaign after it was revealed that he was an adherent of Theodism, a form of Germanic Neopaganism. On his group's website, Halloran offered the following descriptions of his beliefs: "We believe in and honor the Gods and Goddesses of the North, spirits of the land, and the memories of our ancestors"[9] and described his group as "a cultural, religious and martial organization; dedicated to reviving the folkways of the Norman peoples of Northern Europe."[17] Odin, Tyr and Freyr are among the deities worshipped by the group. Halloran also stated that "It is our hope to reconstruct the pre-Christian religion of the Germanic branch of the Indo-European peoples, within a cultural framework and community environment."[6] When asked about his beliefs, Halloran said "I was raised a Roman Catholic[6] right here in Auburndale. I was baptized into the Catholic Church and took my confirmation at 13. I attended Jesuit schools. Then and now, faith is a cornerstone of my life." [6] Halloran served as legal counsel and incorporating attorney for the New York City Pagan Pride Project.[6]

State Senator Frank Padavan stated that he felt Halloran's religion should not be an issue: "We have every religion under the sun in this district.... It's all here; so what? As long as everybody is properly motivated, so be it". These sentiments were echoed by the Queens County Republican Party chairman, Phil Ragusa, who additionally described Halloran as "a traditional person" and "a regular guy".[9] Halloran has lectured and discussed his theology on a national level.[5]

Political offices

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References

  1. ^ "Mud slinging makes for dirty race". Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  2. ^ "Dan Halloran Wins". Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  3. ^ "How Dan Halloran Ran | Republican Liberty Caucus". RLC.org. 2009-12-09. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  4. ^ "The New York City Council - Committees". Legistar.council.nyc.gov. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  5. ^ a b c "A Pagan Republican comes out of the Broom Closet". Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  6. ^ a b c d e Rafferty, Brian M. "Pagan 'King' Has Council GOP Nod". Queens Tribune. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  7. ^ "'Heathen' Halloran Captures Council Seat". Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  8. ^ "Interview With Openly Pagan Elected Official" by Jessica Orsini, The Witches' Voice
  9. ^ a b c "Irish American pagan attorney running for City Council in Queens". Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  10. ^ "CONTESTED ELECTION CASES". New York Times. 2010-08-01. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  11. ^ "'Drill, Baby, Drill'". Video.foxnews.com. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  12. ^ Katz, Celeste (2010-04-02). "Halloran's Profile". New York: Nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  13. ^ City Hall News report on Halloran
  14. ^ Bragg, Chris (2010-05-18). "Halloran Out For Possible Ackerman Challenge". Cityhallnews.com. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  15. ^ National Review report on Halloran's opposition to the Cordoba House
  16. ^ Ground Zero mosque protest
  17. ^ "Pagans say they're nothing to be afraid of". Retrieved November 4, 2009.

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