Herman D. Farrell
Encyclopedia
Herman D. Farrell, Jr. represents District 71 in the New York State Assembly
, which comprises the Manhattan
neighborhoods of West Harlem, Inwood
and Hudson Heights.
First elected to the New York Assembly in 1974, Farrell is the current Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, as well as a member of the Rules Committee and Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus. He was previously the Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Banks, from 1979 to 1994.
During his time in the State Legislature Assemblyman Farrell has played a pivotal role in the passage of several significant pieces of legislation, including the Omnibus Consumer Protection and Banking Legislation Act, which established a toll-free number at the New York State Banking Department that dispenses information about credit card interest
rates, fees and grace periods, and a mandate for banks to furnish low-cost checking accounts to its customers.
He also played a pivotal role in the passage of the Neighborhood Preservation Companies Act, whereby New York State bankrolls community organizations that "provide tenant advocacy."
However, Farrell is most widely known for being a prominent member of the state, and to a lesser extent, national Democratic Party
. He was first elected as a Democratic State Committeeman in 1970, serving a two year term. Subsequently, he was elected as the Leader of the New York County
Democratic Party (1981) and Vice-Chair of the New York State Democratic Party, in which capacity he served for a decade. Since 2001 he has served as the Chairman of the New York State Democratic Party. He has also served as a member of the Democratic National Committee
since 1988.
In 1985, Farrell made an unsuccessful bid to unseat Mayor Edward I. Koch in the Democratic primary for Mayor that year.
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...
, which comprises the 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...
neighborhoods of West Harlem, Inwood
Inwood, Manhattan
Inwood is the northernmost neighborhood on Manhattan Island in the New York City borough of Manhattan.-Geography:Inwood is physically bounded by the Harlem River to the north and east, and the Hudson River to the west. It extends southward to Fort Tryon Park and alternatively Dyckman Street or...
and Hudson Heights.
First elected to the New York Assembly in 1974, Farrell is the current Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, as well as a member of the Rules Committee and Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus. He was previously the Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Banks, from 1979 to 1994.
During his time in the State Legislature Assemblyman Farrell has played a pivotal role in the passage of several significant pieces of legislation, including the Omnibus Consumer Protection and Banking Legislation Act, which established a toll-free number at the New York State Banking Department that dispenses information about credit card interest
Credit card interest
Credit card interest is the principal way in which credit card issuers generate revenue. A card issuer is a bank or credit union that gives a consumer a card or account number that can be used with various payees to make payments and borrow money from the bank simultaneously...
rates, fees and grace periods, and a mandate for banks to furnish low-cost checking accounts to its customers.
He also played a pivotal role in the passage of the Neighborhood Preservation Companies Act, whereby New York State bankrolls community organizations that "provide tenant advocacy."
However, Farrell is most widely known for being a prominent member of the state, and to a lesser extent, national 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...
. He was first elected as a Democratic State Committeeman in 1970, serving a two year term. Subsequently, he was elected as the Leader of the New York County
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...
Democratic Party (1981) and Vice-Chair of the New York State Democratic Party, in which capacity he served for a decade. Since 2001 he has served as the Chairman of the New York State Democratic Party. He has also served as a member of the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
since 1988.
In 1985, Farrell made an unsuccessful bid to unseat Mayor Edward I. Koch in the Democratic primary for Mayor that year.