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

Background

His father, Judge

Charles J. Vallone Charles J. Vallone (1901 – March 15, 1967) was an Italian-American judge. He served on the Queens County Civil Court. Vallone was born in Italy. Robert F. Wagner, Jr., the Mayor of New York City, appointed Vallone to the Municipal Court in 1 ...

(1901–1967) of the

Queens County Civil Court The Civil Court of the City of New York is a civil court of the New York State Unified Court System in New York City that decides lawsuits involving claims for damages up to $25,000 and includes a small claims part (small claims court) for cases in ...

, 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. With his wife, Tena, he has three children ( Peter Jr., Paul, and Perry) and eight grandchildren.

Education

He attended

Fordham University Fordham University () is a Private university, private Jesuit universities, Jesuit research university in New York City. Established in 1841 and named after the Fordham, Bronx, Fordham neighborhood of the The Bronx, Bronx in which its origina ...

, where he received his BSS (1956) and his LLB (1959).

Political career

A former Democratic

New York City Council The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of New York City. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five Borough (New York City), boroughs. The council serves as a check against the Mayor of New York City, mayor in a may ...

man 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. 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 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The '' Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently ...

(as the Democratic Party nominee), and for mayor in

2001 The September 11 attacks against the United States by Al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror, were a defining event of 2001. The United States led a Participants in ...

(placing third in the Democratic primary).

Later career

He 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. Peter Fortunate Vallone Jr. (born March 23, 1961) is an American judge and lawyer. Vallone was a member of the New York City Council representing the 22nd district, encompassing Astoria, Queens and the surrounding communities from 2002 to 201 ...

, 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 In 2005, Vallone endorsed Republican

Michael Bloomberg Michael Rubens Bloomberg (born February 14, 1942) is an American businessman, politician, philanthropist, and author. He is the majority owner, co-founder and CEO of Bloomberg L.P. He was Mayor of New York City from 2002 to 2013, and was a ca ...

for Mayor of New York City. In 2009, he endorsed a former rival in the mayoral race,

Mark J. Green Mark Joseph Green (born March 15, 1945) is an American author, former public official, public interest lawyer, and Democratic politician from New York City. Green was New York City Consumer Affairs Commissioner from 1990 to 1993 and New York Ci ...

, who attempted to win back the job of Public Advocate.http://www.nydailynews.com/news/election_2009/2009/09/01/2009-09-01_alls_forgiven_as_greens_2001_foe_endorses_him.html

Electoral history

*1998 election for Governor ** George Pataki (R) (inc.), 54% **Peter Vallone (D), 33% ** Tom Golisano (I), 8%

References

, - , - , - , - 1934 births American politicians of Italian descent Fordham University School of Law alumni Living people New York City Council members New York (state) Democrats People from Queens, New York Speakers of the New York City Council Vallone family Working Families Party politicians {{NewYork-politician-stub