Kenneth Mitchell (politician)
Encyclopedia
Kenneth "Ken" Mitchell is a Democratic Party
politician
from the New York City
borough of Staten Island
who had served in the New York City Council
representing the North Shore
of that borough. He is currently the Executive Director of the Staten Island Zoo
. From March 1, 2010 to October 3, 2011 Mitchell served as Interim Executive Director of the institution.
(a private Roman Catholic secondary school run by the Christian Brothers of St. John Baptist de la Salle
). He is a graduate of Wagner College
and New York Law School
and is licensed to practice law in New York
and New Jersey
.
in Staten Island.
Mitchell served as Chief-of-Staff and General Counsel
to former Councilman (now Congressman) Mike McMahon
for seven years.
Mitchell was elected to the New York City Council
in a special election in February 2009 and represented the North Shore
of Staten Island
. He was defeated in his bid for re-election during the September 2009 Democratic primary by a community activist, Debi Rose
. He then appeared on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2009 as a candidate for the Conservative Party of New York
. Rose beat him in the New York City general election and thus succeeded him in January 2010.
), The Staten Island Zoological Society, The Children's Aid Society
at Goodhue Center and the Staten Island Film Festival. He has received service awards from United Activities Unlimited, Warren Jacques Memorial Committee and the North Shore Democratic Club. Mitchell was inducted as a member into the Sons of American Legion, Livingston Post 1369.
Mitchell currently resides in West New Brighton with his wife, Jacquelyn (née Mahoney), a local elementary public school teacher. He is the son of a retired postal worker and a hospital worker.
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the 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...
borough of Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
who had served in 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...
representing the North Shore
North Shore, Staten Island
The term North Shore is frequently applied to a series of neighborhoods within New York City's borough of Staten Island, USA.- Boundaries :...
of that borough. He is currently the Executive Director of the Staten Island Zoo
Staten Island Zoo
The Staten Island Zoo is a small urban zoo in northern Staten Island in New York City in the United States. The zoo is open year round except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day...
. From March 1, 2010 to October 3, 2011 Mitchell served as Interim Executive Director of the institution.
Early life and education
A third generation Staten Islander, Mitchell attended P.S. 45 and the Blessed Sacrament School and St. Peter's Boys High SchoolSt. Peter's Boys High School
St. Peter's Boys' High School is a Catholic all-boys high school located in the West Brighton area of Staten Island in New York City. St. Peter's is affiliated with the Christian Brothers of St. John Baptist de la Salle. The school is located at 200 Clinton Avenue and is part of the St. Peter's...
(a private Roman Catholic secondary school run by the Christian Brothers of St. John Baptist de la Salle
Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools
The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools is a Roman Catholic religious teaching congregation, founded in France by Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle and now based in Rome...
). He is a graduate of Wagner College
Wagner College
Wagner College is a private, co-educational, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 total students located atop Grymes Hill in New York City's borough of Staten Island...
and New York Law School
New York Law School
New York Law School is a private law school in the TriBeCa neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City. New York Law School is one of the oldest independent law schools in the United States. The school is located within four blocks of all major courts in Manhattan. In 2011, New York Law School...
and is licensed to practice law in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
Career
At age 22, Mitchell recognized overdevelopment in Staten Island to be a problem and worked to rezone his neighborhood of Barrett Park to prevent such unnecessary expansion. He began his legal career as a Law Clerk for New York State Supreme Court Justice Michael J. Brennan and was then a Court Attorney for the New York City Criminal CourtNew York City Criminal Court
The New York City Criminal Court is the general term describing the entry-level court for criminal cases in the five boroughs of New York City....
in Staten Island.
Mitchell served as Chief-of-Staff and General Counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
to former Councilman (now Congressman) Mike McMahon
Michael McMahon
Michael E. "Mike" McMahon is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He was previously a member of the New York City Council....
for seven years.
Mitchell was elected to 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...
in a special election in February 2009 and represented the North Shore
North Shore, Staten Island
The term North Shore is frequently applied to a series of neighborhoods within New York City's borough of Staten Island, USA.- Boundaries :...
of Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
. He was defeated in his bid for re-election during the September 2009 Democratic primary by a community activist, Debi Rose
Debi Rose
Deborah "Debi" Rose is a Democratic City Council member in New York City. She was elected to the 49th Council District, in northern Staten Island, New York. In the September 2009 Democratic primary, Rose defeated incumbent Kenneth Mitchell by 16 percentage points...
. He then appeared on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2009 as a candidate for the Conservative Party of New York
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....
. Rose beat him in the New York City general election and thus succeeded him in January 2010.
Affiliations and personal life
Prior to being elected to the New York City Council, Mitchell had also worked with and served on the boards of many local charities and community groups including the Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation (named after the physician father of boxer Teddy AtlasTeddy Atlas
Theodore A. "Teddy" Atlas, Jr. is a well-known boxing trainer and fight commentator.-Personal life:...
), The Staten Island Zoological Society, The Children's Aid Society
Children's Aid Society
__notoc__The Children’s Aid Society is a private charitable organization based in New York City. It serves 150,000 children per year, providing foster care, medical and mental health services, and a wide range of educational, recreational and advocacy services through dozens of community centers,...
at Goodhue Center and the Staten Island Film Festival. He has received service awards from United Activities Unlimited, Warren Jacques Memorial Committee and the North Shore Democratic Club. Mitchell was inducted as a member into the Sons of American Legion, Livingston Post 1369.
Mitchell currently resides in West New Brighton with his wife, Jacquelyn (née Mahoney), a local elementary public school teacher. He is the son of a retired postal worker and a hospital worker.