Adam Clayton Powell IV (politician)
Encyclopedia
Adam Clayton Powell IV was a member of the New York State Assembly
. From 1992-1997 he served as New York City Council Member representing East Harlem and parts of the Upper West Side
and the South Bronx. Since 2000, Powell has represented the 68th Assembly District, which includes parts of Harlem
and East Harlem. He was defeated by veteran Congressman Charles Rangel in the 2010 Democratic Primary for the seat of the 15th Congressional District.
and his third wife Yvette Diago in San Juan, Puerto Rico
. Powell's maternal grandfather Gonzalo Diago was a mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico
and served as such from 1941 to 1945. When his parents separated, Powell's mother was granted custody, and he was raised and educated in Puerto Rico. Powell has an older half-brother, Adam Clayton Powell III.
In 1980, Adam Clayton Powell Diago changed his name to Adam Clayton Powell IV when he came to the United States to study at Howard University
in Washington, DC. (He can be confused with his nephew, also named Adam Clayton Powell IV, son of Adam Clayton Powell III
). He later earned a law degree from Fordham University
in New York.
, leading to occasional confusion.
Powell joined the Democratic Party
in 1989 and ran successfully for the New York City Council
in 1991. In 1994, Powell challenged Representative Charles B. Rangel
for his seat in the United States House of Representatives
, but lost. In 1997, he ran for Manhattan
borough president, lost again, and moved back to Puerto Rico.
For the next three years, Powell worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) and managed his properties in Puerto Rico. There he participated in the Vieques protests, which demanded the departure of the U.S. Navy from that island. He was briefly married to Andrea Dial, a former Ebony
Fashion Fair model. They had a son, Adam Clayton Powell V, before divorcing in the mid-1990s.
After his return to New York and election to the state legislature, Powell was credited with passing the law known as SCRIE (Senior Citizens Rent Increase Exemption), which exempts seniors from paying any rent increases. In 2007, Powell was in Albany for 90% of the legislative session. In 2009, he attended 78.3% of the legislative sessions.
buildings in Powell's assembly district.
When Powell ran for Congress in 1994, he raised $64,000, 10% of which came from New York State,
, who made a $1000 personal donation to Powell.
. Powell said he accompanied several lawmakers on the Ireland trip, which was sponsored by the New York American-Irish Legislators Society as a means to raise awareness of the issues that affect the Irish community.
Powell also paid out a substantial legal bill to his criminal defense lawyer
Murray Richman, Esq. and Stacey Richman, Esq. On Monday December 14, 2009 the Daily News (New York) reported that Powell's campaign treasurer is also on Powell's Assembly payroll as a "constituent liaison."
was created by the conviction as it is considered only a traffic violation. One juror commented, "the whole thing is we didn't think he was drunk."
.
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
. From 1992-1997 he served as New York City Council Member representing East Harlem and parts of the Upper West Side
Upper West Side
The Upper West Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan, New York City, that lies between Central Park and the Hudson River and between West 59th Street and West 125th Street...
and the South Bronx. Since 2000, Powell has represented the 68th Assembly District, which includes parts of Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
and East Harlem. He was defeated by veteran Congressman Charles Rangel in the 2010 Democratic Primary for the seat of the 15th Congressional District.
Early years
Powell (birth name: Adam Clayton Powell Diago) was born to Civil Rights leader and former congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., was an American politician and pastor who represented Harlem, New York City, in the United States House of Representatives . He was the first person of African-American descent elected to Congress from New York and became a powerful national politician...
and his third wife Yvette Diago in San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. Powell's maternal grandfather Gonzalo Diago was a mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
and served as such from 1941 to 1945. When his parents separated, Powell's mother was granted custody, and he was raised and educated in Puerto Rico. Powell has an older half-brother, Adam Clayton Powell III.
In 1980, Adam Clayton Powell Diago changed his name to Adam Clayton Powell IV when he came to the United States to study at Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
in Washington, DC. (He can be confused with his nephew, also named Adam Clayton Powell IV, son of Adam Clayton Powell III
Adam Clayton Powell III
Adam Clayton Powell III is an American journalist, media executive, and scholar who currently serves as Director of Washington Policy Initiatives for the University of Southern California and University Fellow at the USC Center on Public Diplomacy. He was USC's vice provost for globalization from...
). He later earned a law degree from Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
in New York.
Political career
In preparation for his political life, in 1980, Adam Clayton Powell Diago changed his name to Adam Clayton Powell IV. He already had a nephew by that name: Adam Clayton Powell IV, son of Adam Clayton Powell IIIAdam Clayton Powell III
Adam Clayton Powell III is an American journalist, media executive, and scholar who currently serves as Director of Washington Policy Initiatives for the University of Southern California and University Fellow at the USC Center on Public Diplomacy. He was USC's vice provost for globalization from...
, leading to occasional confusion.
Powell joined the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in 1989 and ran successfully for the New York City Council
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
in 1991. In 1994, Powell challenged Representative Charles B. Rangel
Charles B. Rangel
Charles Bernard "Charlie" Rangel is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1971. A member of the Democratic Party, he is the third-longest currently serving member of the House of Representatives. As its most senior member, he is also the Dean of New York's congressional delegation...
for his seat in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, but lost. In 1997, he ran for Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
borough president, lost again, and moved back to Puerto Rico.
For the next three years, Powell worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal Emergency Management Agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders...
(FEMA) and managed his properties in Puerto Rico. There he participated in the Vieques protests, which demanded the departure of the U.S. Navy from that island. He was briefly married to Andrea Dial, a former Ebony
Ebony (magazine)
Ebony, a monthly magazine for the African-American market, was founded by John H. Johnson and has published continuously since the autumn of 1945...
Fashion Fair model. They had a son, Adam Clayton Powell V, before divorcing in the mid-1990s.
After his return to New York and election to the state legislature, Powell was credited with passing the law known as SCRIE (Senior Citizens Rent Increase Exemption), which exempts seniors from paying any rent increases. In 2007, Powell was in Albany for 90% of the legislative session. In 2009, he attended 78.3% of the legislative sessions.
Fundraising
Powell recruited Andonis Morfesi as the fundraising co-chair for his political campaigns. When asked to explain his recruitment, Powell acknowledged that Morfesi owned buildings in his city council district, but added that "A lot of guys wouldn't be on my contributors' list if I started digging into their records." Powell also recruited Pinnacle Management, like Andonis Morfesi, Pinnacle Management owns and operates manybuildings in Powell's assembly district.
When Powell ran for Congress in 1994, he raised $64,000, 10% of which came from New York State,
Jorge Mas Canosa
Jorge Mass Canosa was a Cuban-American activist best known for his strong opposition to Fidel Castro and his leadership of the Cuban American National Foundation. He was considered by some to be the leading figure in the Cuban exile community in Miami, Florida...
, who made a $1000 personal donation to Powell.
Campaign funds
Powell spent $1,200 of his campaign funds traveling to IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Powell said he accompanied several lawmakers on the Ireland trip, which was sponsored by the New York American-Irish Legislators Society as a means to raise awareness of the issues that affect the Irish community.
Powell also paid out a substantial legal bill to his criminal defense lawyer
Criminal defense lawyer
A criminal defense lawyer is a lawyer specializing in the defense of individuals and companies charged with criminal conduct. Criminal defense lawyers can be permanently employed by the various jurisdictions with criminal courts. Such lawyers are often called public defenders. For a much more...
Murray Richman, Esq. and Stacey Richman, Esq. On Monday December 14, 2009 the Daily News (New York) reported that Powell's campaign treasurer is also on Powell's Assembly payroll as a "constituent liaison."
Vehicular charges
In 2008, Powell was arrested and charged for allegedly driving while intoxicated (DWI) on the Henry Hudson Parkway in New York City. Powell's driver's license was suspended. On 25 March 2010 Powell was acquitted of driving while intoxicated and found guilty of the lesser charge of driving while impaired. Powell's license was suspended for ninety days and he was ordered to attend a drunk driving course and fined $300. No criminal recordCriminal record
A criminal record is a record of a person's criminal history, generally used by potential employers, lenders etc. to assess his or her trustworthiness. The information included in a criminal record varies between countries and even between jurisdictions within a country...
was created by the conviction as it is considered only a traffic violation. One juror commented, "the whole thing is we didn't think he was drunk."
Congressional race, 2010
Powell lost to incumbent Representative Charles Rangel in the 2010 primary for the 15th districtNew York's 15th congressional district
New York's 15th Congressional District is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives located in New York City. It is composed of Upper Manhattan, Rikers Island and a largely non-residential section of northwestern Queens on the shore of the East River mostly occupied...
.