Antonio Pagán
Encyclopedia
Antonio Pagán was an American
politician, who held roles in the municipal government of New York City
. He served on New York City Council
for six years, and was subsequently appointed the city's commissioner of employment by mayor Rudy Giuliani
in 1998.
Pagán, a native of Manhattan who spent much of his early life in Puerto Rico, became one of the two first openly gay men elected to the New York City Council in 1991, along with Thomas Duane
, after Pagán narrowly upset the incumbent, Miriam Friedlander
, in a close-fought Democratic primary.
. He was educated at the University of Puerto Rico
and John Jay College of Criminal Justice
.
At the end of his second council term, Pagán opted not to run for a third term on council — instead he sought the Democratic nomination for Manhattan borough president, coming in fourth in the primary. He broke party ranks to endorse Giuliani over Democratic challenger Ruth Messinger
in that year's mayoral race
. Following the election, Giuliani named Pagán as commissioner of employment, a post he held until 2002.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, who held roles in the municipal government of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He served on 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...
for six years, and was subsequently appointed the city's commissioner of employment by mayor Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
in 1998.
Pagán, a native of Manhattan who spent much of his early life in Puerto Rico, became one of the two first openly gay men elected to the New York City Council in 1991, along with Thomas Duane
Thomas Duane
Thomas K. Duane is an American politician from New York, currently serving in the New York State Senate. He was the nation's first openly HIV-positive person elected to office....
, after Pagán narrowly upset the incumbent, Miriam Friedlander
Miriam Friedlander
Miriam Friedlander was a Bronx born American politician who represented the city council district in New York City's Lower East Side and Chinatown from 1974 to 1991. In the primary election of the Democratic Party she defeated Sheldon Silver....
, in a close-fought Democratic primary.
Background
Pagán was born in Manhattan and spent most of his childhood in Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. He was educated at the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
and John Jay College of Criminal Justice
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
The John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a senior college of the City University of New York in Midtown Manhattan, New York City and is the only liberal arts college with a criminal justice and forensic focus in the United States. The college offers programs in Forensic Science and Forensic...
.
Political career
Although he was a Democrat, Pagán was noted for his more conservative positions on certain issues, including opposition to low-income housing, and was frequently criticized by both gay and Puerto Rican activist groups for taking positions they felt were contrary to community interests. However, he also often fought to protect small local and independent businesses that were threatened by increased competition from national chain stores.At the end of his second council term, Pagán opted not to run for a third term on council — instead he sought the Democratic nomination for Manhattan borough president, coming in fourth in the primary. He broke party ranks to endorse Giuliani over Democratic challenger Ruth Messinger
Ruth Messinger
Ruth Wyler Messinger is a former political leader in New York City and a member of the Democratic Party as well as the Democratic Socialists of America. She was the Democratic nominee for Mayor of New York City in 1997, losing to incumbent mayor Rudy Giuliani. She is married to Andrew Lachman, her...
in that year's mayoral race
New York City mayoral election, 1997
The New York City mayoral election of 1997 occurred on Tuesday November 4, 1997, with incumbent Republican mayor Rudy Giuliani soundly defeating Manhattan Borough President and former New York City Council member Ruth Messinger, the Democratic nominee...
. Following the election, Giuliani named Pagán as commissioner of employment, a post he held until 2002.