Helen Marshall
Encyclopedia
Helen M. Marshall is the 18th Borough President
of Queens, first elected in November 2001, to succeed the term-limited Claire Shulman
. She is the first African American
woman elected as Queens Borough President, and as of 2010 she is the only sitting African American Borough President.
Prior to being elected Borough President, Marshall served on the New York City Council
from 1992 to 2001, an office she vacated due to term limits. Prior to being a city councilwoman, Marshall served for nine years in the New York State Assembly
. In both the City Council and State Assembly, Marshall represented Queens.
As Borough President, Marshall has made marketing Queens as a tourist destination
one of her priorities.
In 2005 Marshall won a second term, defeating her Republican
and Conservative
challenger Philip T. Sica
with 75% of the vote to his 25%. She was inaugurated to her second term as President of the Borough of Queens on January 3, 2006 in a ceremony held at Terrace on the Park
in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Marshall outlined her plans for the next four years including health care, education, housing and new park projects.
On July 1, 2009 she appointed Dennis M. Walcott to the reconstituted New York City Board of Education
. The Board then voted to name Walcott as president of the board.
In November 2009, Marshall was re-elected to a third term.
Marshall was born in the Bronx. She received a Bachelor's Degree
in Education from Queens College. She was teacher for eight years. In 1969, she left teaching to become the first Director of the Langston Hughes Library
. Helen Marshall is married to Donald Marshall and they have two children, Donald Jr. and Agnes Marie.
Borough president
Borough President is an elective office in each of the five boroughs of New York City.-Reasons for establishment:...
of Queens, first elected in November 2001, to succeed the term-limited Claire Shulman
Claire Shulman
Claire K. Shulman is an American politician. She was the borough president of Queens, New York from 1986 until 2002; the first woman to hold this position in New York City's history....
. She is the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
woman elected as Queens Borough President, and as of 2010 she is the only sitting African American Borough President.
Prior to being elected Borough President, Marshall served on 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...
from 1992 to 2001, an office she vacated due to term limits. Prior to being a city councilwoman, Marshall served for nine years in the New York State Assembly
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...
. In both the City Council and State Assembly, Marshall represented Queens.
As Borough President, Marshall has made marketing Queens as a tourist destination
Tourist destination
A tourist destination is a city, town, or other area that is dependent to a significant extent on the revenues accruing from tourism. It may contain one or more tourist attractions and possibly some "tourist traps."...
one of her priorities.
In 2005 Marshall won a second term, defeating her Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and Conservative
Conservative Party of New York
The Conservative Party of New York State is an American political party active in the state of New York. It is not part of any nationwide party, nor is it affiliated with the American Conservative Party, which it predates by over 40 years....
challenger Philip T. Sica
Philip T. Sica
Philip Theodore Sica is the President of Wise Choice Realty who, in 2005, made an unsuccessful bid for Queens borough president in New York City. He was the nominee for the Republican and Conservative parties ultimately losing to incumbent Borough President Helen Marshall.Sica's earliest...
with 75% of the vote to his 25%. She was inaugurated to her second term as President of the Borough of Queens on January 3, 2006 in a ceremony held at Terrace on the Park
Terrace on the Park
Terrace on the Park is a banquet hall in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. The building was constructed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to serve as the heliport for the 1964 New York World's Fair. It is located to the south of the New York Hall of Science. The bulk of the building is...
in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Marshall outlined her plans for the next four years including health care, education, housing and new park projects.
On July 1, 2009 she appointed Dennis M. Walcott to the reconstituted New York City Board of Education
New York City Board of Education
The New York City Board of Education is the governing body of the New York City Department of Education. The members of the board are appointed by the mayor and by the five borough presidents.-Rise, fall and return of Mayoral Control:...
. The Board then voted to name Walcott as president of the board.
In November 2009, Marshall was re-elected to a third term.
Marshall was born in the Bronx. She received a Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Education from Queens College. She was teacher for eight years. In 1969, she left teaching to become the first Director of the Langston Hughes Library
Langston Hughes Library
The Langston Hughes Library is a private non-circulating library designed by Maya Lin, and located on the Haley Farm in Clinton, TN. It contains a 5,000-volume reference collection focusing on works by African-American authors and illustrator, and books focused on the Black experience .-Location...
. Helen Marshall is married to Donald Marshall and they have two children, Donald Jr. and Agnes Marie.