Dan Halloran
Encyclopedia
Dan Halloran is a Republican
member of the New York City Council
. He was also endorsed by the Libertarian
, Independence
and Conservative
parties in his 2009 election to the New York City Council. He represents the 19th District, in Queens. Elected on November 3, 2009, he succeeded Tony Avella
, who made a failed bid to become the Democratic nominee for mayor. As of 2009 he was reportedly the highest-elected person to have run on the Libertarian Party line in the United States.
Halloran sits on the Fire & Criminal Justice, Public Safety, Land Use (including Landmarks, Public Siting & Maritime Uses sub-committee), Public Housing, and Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Disability Services committees.
.
Halloran worked in the NYPD and several District Attorneys' offices before entering private practice as a lawyer in a firm with offices in Queens and Long Island. He has been of counsel to the New York City Patrolman's Benevolent Association, worked on the Felony Panel of the 18B Assigned Counsel Plan of NYC, and is a Court Designated Referee in the Queens Supreme Court.
, commonly commonly referred to as Obamacare. He has appeared as a regular commentator on the Strategy Room on Fox News where he has discussed matters ranging from Healthcare reform to government spending, off-shore oil exploration, and other conservative and libertarian principles.
He reportedly was asked to run for U.S. Congress in the 2010 election cycle in the 5th District of New York by Republican, Libertarian, and Conservative leaders. Despite being courted by the NRCC and Congressman Peter King to run, he withdrew from consideration citing the economic crisis in the New York City and state budgets and the need to set the city's finances in order before he could consider taking on a run for any other office.
Halloran became the first elected official in New York City to publicly criticize the Park51 project near Ground Zero of the WTC site, "If we want a nation of peace", said Halloran, whose cousin, Lieutenant Vincent Halloran, an FDNY First Responder, died on 9/11 "then peace comes with understanding. And they need to understand that this is sacred ground to New Yorkers." "New York City is the greatest city in the world [a place of religious tolerance, but that tolerance] starts when you say 'I understand your pain, and I am not going to inflict more on you'," Halloran added, describing Ground Zero as "sacred ground to New Yorkers".
in a bad light. Halloran's statement precipitated multiple criminal investigations. The two workers he identified, however, did not corroborate his story, and he refused to name the three others.
and Viking archaeology and field research in Ireland led him to develop an interest in Germanic mythology and lore, and eventually to Theodism, which has attracted widespread attention. He is a member of the New Normannii Reik, a branch of Heathenism. The Village Voice described Halloran as "America's First Elected Heathen"; another Reconstructionist
Neopagan adherent, Jessica Orsini
(who is Hellenic), had previously been elected to the city council of Centralia, Missouri
in 2006.
His religion became an issue during the campaign after it was revealed that he was an adherent of Theodism. On his group's website, Halloran offered the following descriptions of his beliefs: "We believe in and honor the Gods and Goddesses of the North, spirits of the land, and the memories of our ancestors" and described his group as "a cultural, religious and martial organization; dedicated to reviving the folkways of the Norman peoples of Northern Europe." Odin
, Tyr and Freyr
are among the deities worshipped by the group. Halloran also stated that "It is our hope to reconstruct the pre-Christian religion
of the Germanic branch
of the Indo-European peoples
, within a cultural framework and community environment." When asked about his beliefs, Halloran said "I was raised a Roman Catholic right here in Auburndale
. I was baptized into the Catholic Church and took my confirmation at 13. I attended Jesuit schools. Then and now, faith is a cornerstone of my life." Halloran served as legal counsel and incorporating attorney for the New York City Pagan Pride Project.
State Senator Frank Padavan
stated that he felt Halloran's religion should not be an issue: "We have every religion under the sun in this district.... It's all here; so what? As long as everybody is properly motivated, so be it". These sentiments were echoed by the Queens County Republican Party chairman, Phil Ragusa, who additionally described Halloran as "a traditional person" and "a regular guy". Halloran has lectured and discussed his theology on a national level.
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...
member of 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...
. He was also endorsed by the Libertarian
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
, Independence
Independence Party of New York
The Independence Party is an affiliate in the U.S. state of New York of the Independence Party of America. The party was founded in 1991 by Dr. Gordon Black, Tom Golisano, and Laureen Oliver from Rochester, New York, and acquired ballot status in 1994...
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....
parties in his 2009 election to the New York City Council. He represents the 19th District, in Queens. Elected on November 3, 2009, he succeeded Tony Avella
Tony Avella
Tony Avella is an American politician and Democratic State Senator from the 11th New York Senate district. Avella was a member of the New York City Council from the borough of Queens from 2002 to 2009...
, who made a failed bid to become the Democratic nominee for mayor. As of 2009 he was reportedly the highest-elected person to have run on the Libertarian Party line in the United States.
Halloran sits on the Fire & Criminal Justice, Public Safety, Land Use (including Landmarks, Public Siting & Maritime Uses sub-committee), Public Housing, and Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Disability Services committees.
Personal life
Halloran was raised in a "traditional Irish household" and was an attorney prior to running for office. He earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from St. John's University Law School and a B.A. in history and anthropology from the City University of New YorkCity University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
.
Halloran worked in the NYPD and several District Attorneys' offices before entering private practice as a lawyer in a firm with offices in Queens and Long Island. He has been of counsel to the New York City Patrolman's Benevolent Association, worked on the Felony Panel of the 18B Assigned Counsel Plan of NYC, and is a Court Designated Referee in the Queens Supreme Court.
Political views
Halloran is a registered life-long Republican, a fiscal conservative and libertarian who opposes the Patient Protection and Affordable Care ActPatient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
, commonly commonly referred to as Obamacare. He has appeared as a regular commentator on the Strategy Room on Fox News where he has discussed matters ranging from Healthcare reform to government spending, off-shore oil exploration, and other conservative and libertarian principles.
He reportedly was asked to run for U.S. Congress in the 2010 election cycle in the 5th District of New York by Republican, Libertarian, and Conservative leaders. Despite being courted by the NRCC and Congressman Peter King to run, he withdrew from consideration citing the economic crisis in the New York City and state budgets and the need to set the city's finances in order before he could consider taking on a run for any other office.
Halloran became the first elected official in New York City to publicly criticize the Park51 project near Ground Zero of the WTC site, "If we want a nation of peace", said Halloran, whose cousin, Lieutenant Vincent Halloran, an FDNY First Responder, died on 9/11 "then peace comes with understanding. And they need to understand that this is sacred ground to New Yorkers." "New York City is the greatest city in the world [a place of religious tolerance, but that tolerance] starts when you say 'I understand your pain, and I am not going to inflict more on you'," Halloran added, describing Ground Zero as "sacred ground to New Yorkers".
Allegation of work slowdown
Halloran attracted widespread attention when he stated that five municipal employees had told him of a deliberate slowdown in clearing snow after a blizzard in December 2010; the slowdown was allegedly organized to put Mayor Michael BloombergMichael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
in a bad light. Halloran's statement precipitated multiple criminal investigations. The two workers he identified, however, did not corroborate his story, and he refused to name the three others.
Religion
Halloran's study of NorsemenNorsemen
Norsemen is used to refer to the group of people as a whole who spoke what is now called the Old Norse language belonging to the North Germanic branch of Indo-European languages, especially Norwegian, Icelandic, Faroese, Swedish and Danish in their earlier forms.The meaning of Norseman was "people...
and Viking archaeology and field research in Ireland led him to develop an interest in Germanic mythology and lore, and eventually to Theodism, which has attracted widespread attention. He is a member of the New Normannii Reik, a branch of Heathenism. The Village Voice described Halloran as "America's First Elected Heathen"; another Reconstructionist
Polytheistic reconstructionism
Polytheistic reconstructionism is an approach to Neopaganism first emerging in the late 1960s to early 1970s, and gathering momentum in the 1990s to 2000s...
Neopagan adherent, Jessica Orsini
Jessica Orsini
Jessica Orsini is the current Alderwoman for Ward III of Centralia, Missouri. She was elected in 2006 and is currently in her third term. Orsini is openly transgender and pagan, and is one of a very few such individuals to hold elective office in the United States.-References:...
(who is Hellenic), had previously been elected to the city council of Centralia, Missouri
Centralia, Missouri
Centralia is a city in Audrain and Boone counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 3,774 at the 2000 census.The Boone County portion of Centralia is part of the Columbia Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Audrain County portion is part of the Mexico Micropolitan Statistical...
in 2006.
His religion became an issue during the campaign after it was revealed that he was an adherent of Theodism. On his group's website, Halloran offered the following descriptions of his beliefs: "We believe in and honor the Gods and Goddesses of the North, spirits of the land, and the memories of our ancestors" and described his group as "a cultural, religious and martial organization; dedicated to reviving the folkways of the Norman peoples of Northern Europe." Odin
Odin
Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
, Tyr and Freyr
Freyr
Freyr is one of the most important gods of Norse paganism. Freyr was highly associated with farming, weather and, as a phallic fertility god, Freyr "bestows peace and pleasure on mortals"...
are among the deities worshipped by the group. Halloran also stated that "It is our hope to reconstruct the pre-Christian religion
Germanic paganism
Germanic paganism refers to the theology and religious practices of the Germanic peoples of north-western Europe from the Iron Age until their Christianization during the Medieval period...
of the Germanic branch
Germanic peoples
The Germanic peoples are an Indo-European ethno-linguistic group of Northern European origin, identified by their use of the Indo-European Germanic languages which diversified out of Proto-Germanic during the Pre-Roman Iron Age.Originating about 1800 BCE from the Corded Ware Culture on the North...
of the Indo-European peoples
Indo-European languages
The Indo-European languages are a family of several hundred related languages and dialects, including most major current languages of Europe, the Iranian plateau, and South Asia and also historically predominant in Anatolia...
, within a cultural framework and community environment." When asked about his beliefs, Halloran said "I was raised a Roman Catholic right here in Auburndale
Auburndale, Queens
Auburndale is a neighborhood in the northern part of the New York City borough of Queens, between Bayside and Murray Hill. The neighborhood is part of Queens Community Board 11.The name comes from Auburndale, Massachusetts, the home of L. H...
. I was baptized into the Catholic Church and took my confirmation at 13. I attended Jesuit schools. Then and now, faith is a cornerstone of my life." Halloran served as legal counsel and incorporating attorney for the New York City Pagan Pride Project.
State Senator Frank Padavan
Frank Padavan
Frank Padavan is an engineer and was a Republican New York state senator representing District 11, located in Queens County. His district included the communities of Queens Village, Flushing, Bayside, Whitestone, Douglaston, Little Neck, College Point, Bellerose, Hollis, Jamaica Estates, Floral...
stated that he felt Halloran's religion should not be an issue: "We have every religion under the sun in this district.... It's all here; so what? As long as everybody is properly motivated, so be it". These sentiments were echoed by the Queens County Republican Party chairman, Phil Ragusa, who additionally described Halloran as "a traditional person" and "a regular guy". Halloran has lectured and discussed his theology on a national level.