Ed Towns | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chair of theHouse Oversight Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Henry Waxman |
| Succeeded by | Darrell Issa |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York | |
| In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | James H. Scheuer |
| Succeeded by | Hakeem Jeffries (redistricted) |
| Constituency |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | Edolphus Towns Jr. (1934-07-21)July 21, 1934 (age 91) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Gwen Forbes |
| Children | 2, includingDarryl |
| Education | North Carolina A&T State University (BS) Adelphi University (MSW) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1956–1958 |
Edolphus "Ed"Towns Jr. (born July 21, 1934) is an American educator, military veteran, and politician who served in theUnited States House of Representatives from 1983 to 2013. ADemocrat fromNew York, Towns was Chairman of theHouse Oversight and Government Reform Committee from 2009 to 2011.
During his 30 years in Congress, Towns represented districts based inBrooklyn: firstNew York's 11th congressional district, from 1983 to 1993, and then the10th district from 1993 to 2013.
Towns was born inChadbourn, North Carolina, the son of Versie (née Brown) and Edolphus Towns.[1] He graduated from West Side High School, Chadbourn, North Carolina in 1952. He earned a bachelor's degree in sociology fromNorth Carolina A&T State University in 1956 and a master's degree in social work fromAdelphi University in 1973. Towns is a member ofPhi Beta Sigma fraternity.
Towns was an administrator atBeth Israel Medical Center, a professor at New York'sMedgar Evers College andFordham University, and a public school teacher teaching orientation and mobility toblind students. In 1956, he joined theUnited States Army as a private and received basic combat training atFort Hood, Texas with the4th Armored Division.[2] He served until 1958. He was also an ordainedBaptistminister.
In 1970, he ran forNew York Assembly District 38, and was defeated in the Democratic primary by John Mullally, 75%–25%.[3] In 1972, he ran in District 40 and was defeated in the Democratic primary byEdward Griffith, who won the primary with a plurality of 37%.[4]
After redistricting, Towns ran for the open seat in the Brooklyn-basedNew York's 11th congressional district. Towns won the Democratic primary with a plurality of 48%,[5] and won the general election with 84% of the vote.[6] He never won a general election campaign with less than 85% of the vote.[7] He has won the Democratic primary with at least 60% of the vote all but three times (1998, 2000, and 2006).
From 1996 to 1998, Towns was in a rivalry with Brooklyn Democratic Party Chairman Clarence Norman. In addition, he has received criticism for endorsing RepublicanRudy Giuliani forMayor of New York City in1997. He was challenged in the 1998 primaries by Barry D. Ford, a 35-year-old lawyer with the firm ofCleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton[8] and also faced a challenge from political activist Ken Diamondstone. Towns won the primary with 55% of the vote.[9] In 2000, Ford ran for a rematch against Towns and lost 57%–43%.[10]
In 2006, Towns faced Democratic primary challenges fromCharles Barron, a member of theNew York City Council, andRoger Green, a former member of theNew York State Assembly. Barron was a staunch ally ofAl Sharpton. Green was convicted of stealing $3,000 in taxpayer dollars.[11] Towns defeated Barron and Green 47%–37%–15%,[12] the worst primary performance of his career. In 2012, Towns endorsed Barron in the race for his Congressional seat, but Barron was routed by a 72–28% margin and the seat went toHakeem Jeffries.
Kevin Powell, ahip hop activist, writer, and former cast member on theMTVReality TV showThe Real World, opted out of challenging Towns for the 2006 Democratic nomination,[13] challenging him in 2008 instead. Powell criticized Towns for supportingHillary Clinton overBarack Obama in the Democratic presidential primaries. Towns defeated Powell 69%–31%.[14][15]
Towns served on theEnergy and Commerce Committee[when?] and is a member of theCongressional Black Caucus. On January 7, 2009, his proposed legislation to require information on Presidential donors kicked off the new session of the 111th Congress.[16] Towns' past accomplishments include, co-sponsoring or enacting several pieces of federal legislation, including the Student Right To Know Act, which mandated the reporting of the rate of graduation among student athletes, creating the Telecommunications Development Fund, which provides capital for minority business initiatives, and the development of a federal program for poison control centers.[17]
He had been targeted by various Democratic Party constituencies, including factions led by his political rivalAl Sharpton, and national and local labor unions, who resent his support for passage of theCentral American Free Trade Agreement, which passed the House of Representatives by a razor-thin margin. In addition, he has been heavily criticized for taking money from telecomPACs and opposingnet neutrality.[citation needed]
He put particular emphasis on arguing in behalf of underserved Brooklyn communities, and has won recognition from several organizations for his efforts. TheNational Audubon Society has honored him for his efforts in fighting to secure federal funds for the restoration of Prospect Park. Towns fought to haveEnvironmental Protection Agency testing in the aftermath of theSeptember 11 attacks, including neighborhoods outside of the borough ofManhattan.[citation needed]
Towns delayed the investigation intoCountrywide Financial's VIP loan program when he was the House oversight panel's chairman by refusing to issue a subpoena forBank of America records. AfterThe Wall Street Journal reported that public loan documents indicated Towns had received two mortgages from the VIP program, he issued the subpoena and his office denied wrongdoing.[18]
In December 2010, he announced that he would not seek the position ofRanking Minority Member of the Oversight Committee in the next Congress, even though his seniority and service as Chair would typically result in him filling this post. Towns reportedly withdrew due to lack of support fromNancy Pelosi, who reportedly feared Towns would not be a sufficiently aggressive leader in an anticipated struggle with incoming committee chairDarrell Issa (R-CA).[19][20] Towns's successor isElijah Cummings, who defeatedCarolyn Maloney in a vote of the House Democratic Caucus.[19]
On April 16, 2012, Towns announced he would be retiring at the end of his 15th term.[21] His district had been renumbered as the 8th district in redistricting and had a significant increase of white voters, though it still had a large black majority.[21]
After leaving Congress, Towns became a senior advisor for the government relations and lobbying firm Gray Global Advisors.[22]
Towns is married to the former Gwendolyn Forbes and they reside in theCypress Hills section ofBrooklyn. They have two children,Darryl (who had served in theNew York State Assembly but vacated his seat to become commissioner and chief executive of New York State Homes and Community Renewal agency when appointed by Gov.Andrew Cuomo) and Deidra, who ran in special election to replace her brother, on a self-created ticket, Community First.[citation needed]
He is a distant cousin ofWhite House correspondentApril Ryan.[citation needed]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 11th congressional district 1983–1993 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theCongressional Black Caucus 1991–1993 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 10th congressional district 1993–2013 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theHouse Oversight Committee 2009–2011 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Representative | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative |
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