Peter Vallone Sr.

For his son, and former New York City Council Member, see Peter Vallone Jr.

Peter Vallone Sr.
Speaker of the New York City Council
In office January 1, 1990 – December 31, 2001
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Gifford Miller
Majority Leader of the New York City Council
In office January 1, 1986 – December 31, 2001
Preceded by	Thomas J. Cuite
Succeeded by	Joel Rivera
Member of the New York City Council
In office January 1, 1974 – December 31, 2001
Preceded by	Thomas J. Cuite
Succeeded by	Peter Vallone Jr.
Constituency	20th district (1974–1991) 22nd district (1992–2001)
Personal details
Born	Peter Fortunate Vallone (1934-12-13) December 13, 1934 New York City, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	Fordham University (BS, LLB)

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

Background

His father, Judge Charles J. Vallone (1901–1967) of the Queens County Civil Court, 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, where he received his BSS (1956) and his LLB (1959).

Political career

A former Democratic New York City Councilman 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 as the Democratic nominee receiving in total 1,570,317 votes or 33.16% of the electorate. Vallone was also notably the first ever candidate endorsed by the Working Families Party, with the party receiving 51,325 votes for Vallone via fusion voting. Vallone also ran for mayor in 2001, placing third in the Democratic primary.

Later career

Vallone 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., 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 for Mayor of New York City. In 2009, he endorsed a former rival in the mayoral race, Mark Green, who attempted to win back the job of Public Advocate.

Electoral history

New York gubernatorial election, 1998

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	George Pataki	2,223,264	44.59%
	Conservative	George Pataki	348,727	6.99%
	Total	George Pataki (incumbent)	2,571,991	54.32%	+5.53%
	Democratic	Peter Vallone, Sr.	1,518,992	30.47%
	Working Families	Peter Vallone, Sr.	51,325	1.03%
	Total	Peter Vallone, Sr.	1,570,317	33.16%	−12.29%
	Independence	Tom Golisano	364,056	7.69%	+3.51%
	Liberal	Betsy McCaughey	77,915	1.65%	−0.12%
	Right to Life	Michael Reynolds	56,683	1.20%	−0.10%
	Green	Al Lewis	52,533	1.11%	N/A
	Marijuana Reform	Thomas K. Leighton	24,788	0.52%	N/A
	Unity	Mary Alice France	9,692	0.21%	N/A
	Libertarian	Chris Garvey	4,722	0.11%	−0.07%
	Socialist Workers	Al Duncan	2,539	0.05%	+0.01%
		Blank – Void – Scattering	250,696	5.02%	N/A
Majority			1,001,674	21.15%	+17.81%
Turnout			4,985,932
	Republican hold		Swing