Preceded by Sebastian Leone Political party Democratic Party Name Howard Golden | Profession Lawyer, Politician Spouse(s) Aileen Wolsky Succeeded by Marty Markowitz | |
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Alma mater New York University, Brooklyn Law School Residence Borough Park, New York City, New York, United States Education Stuyvesant High School, Brooklyn Law School, New York University | ||
Howard Golden (born 1925) was the long-time Democratic borough president of Brooklyn serving from 1977 to December 31, 2001.
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Personal life
Howard Golden was born in Flatbush, Brooklyn in 1925. His father ran a delicatessen. Howard grew up in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan and Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, and attended public schools. He graduated from Stuyvesant High School, New York University, and attended Brooklyn Law School on the G.I. Bill, graduating in 1958. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and was part of the Normandy Invasion on June 6, 1944.
Golden married Aileen Wolsky and has two daughters.
Political life
Prior to becoming Brooklyn Borough President, Golden served as City Councilman for the Borough Park section of Brooklyn for almost seven years.
In the November 1976 election, then Borough President Sebastian Leone was elected to the State Supreme Court. He resigned on December 31 to take the new position, and the City Council selected Howard Golden to serve as interim Borough President until the next election. Golden decided to run for the office outright, and in November 1977 he handily won a four-way race by a wide margin.
Golden became the Kings County Democratic Leader following the resignation of Meade Esposito in 1982, a position he then held for 8 years.
Throughout his long 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 genuine 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 is Marty Markowitz, who had served for many years as the State Senator from Golden's home district. Golden had supported his Deputy Jeannette Gadson in that election.