Roy M. Goodman
Encyclopedia
Roy M. Goodman is an American
politician
. He was born in New York City
and is the grandson of Israel Matz
, founder of the Ex-Lax company.
in 1966 and 1967 and Chairman of the New York Republican County Committee from 1981 to 2001.
He was a member of the New York State Senate
from 1969 to 2002. He served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Investigations, Taxation and Government Operations. He was considered a leader of the liberal Rockefeller wing
of the New York State Republican Party. His admirers called him "The Statesman of the State Senate."
In 1977
, Goodman ran for Mayor of New York City
. He defeated Barry Farber
, a talk radio host in the Republican primary. In the general election, Goodman finished third behind Democratic Congressman Edward I. Koch and New York Secretary of State Mario Cuomo
, a Democrat who ran on the Liberal Party
ticket.
in 1990. State Republicans had difficulty in finding a candidate to run against the Democratic incumbent Mario Cuomo
, who was considered unbeatable. Goodman checked his Rolodex
and found Rinfret, whom he knew socially. Goodman picked Rinfret because he was pro-choice
on abortion
and, as a millionaire economist, could spend some of his own money on the campaign. Rinfret's campaign quickly became a disaster and a national laughing-stock for the Republicans. He often made angry outbursts and bitterly attacked his fellow Republicans. On Election Day, Rinfret received about 21 percent of the vote and barely outpolled Herb London, the candidate of the NYS Conservative Party.
who won Mayor Ed Koch's old congressional seat in 1977,
Goodman's tenure in the 1990s witnessed the expansion and then the contraction of the Republican Party in Manhattan. In 1990, Republican John Ravitz
was elected to the NYS Assembly. In 1991, Charles Millard
was elected to the New York City Council. In 1993, Andrew Eristoff
also won election to the Council.
In 1992, Bill Green was ousted by Carolyn Maloney, who has been in Congress ever since. Millard attempted to win back the seat for Republicans in 1994, but he was soundly defeated. Both Millard and Eristoff eventually left the City Council, and their seats were won by Democrats. In 2002, Ravitz ran for Goodman's seat in a special election, but lost to Liz Krueger
. Ravitz decided not to seek re-election to the Assembly in the fall, and Democrat Jonathan Bing
took his seat.
Goodman himself was nearly defeated in 2000 by Liz Krueger. At first, Krueger was leading Goodman by several hundred votes. After a recount and the counting of the absentee ballots, Goodman was declared the winner in late December. Goodman resigned from the State Senate in early 2002.
Since Goodman's departure from office, no other Republican has been elected to office in Manhattan.
, a position he first occupied in 2002.
He is a Fellow For Life of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
, a patron of the Metropolitan Opera
, a Patron of the New York Philharmonic Society, president of the Goodman Family Foundation, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
.
He attended Camp Androscoggin
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was born in 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...
and is the grandson of Israel Matz
Israel Matz
Israel Matz was born in Kalvarija, Lithuania in 1869, and died in New York in 1950.Matz is well known for founding the Ex-Lax company in 1906, today owned by Novartis. His grandson, Roy M...
, founder of the Ex-Lax company.
Political career
Goodman was the New York City Director of Finance under Mayor John LindsayJohn Lindsay
John Vliet Lindsay was an American politician, lawyer and broadcaster who was a U.S. Congressman, Mayor of New York City, candidate for U.S...
in 1966 and 1967 and Chairman of the New York Republican County Committee from 1981 to 2001.
He was a member of the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
from 1969 to 2002. He served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Investigations, Taxation and Government Operations. He was considered a leader of the liberal Rockefeller wing
Rockefeller Republican
Rockefeller Republican refers to a faction of the United States Republican Party who held moderate to liberal views similar to those of Nelson Rockefeller...
of the New York State Republican Party. His admirers called him "The Statesman of the State Senate."
In 1977
New York City mayoral election, 1977
The New York City mayoral election of 1977 occurred on Tuesday, November 8, 1977.Incumbent mayor Abraham Beame, a Democrat, was challenged by five other Democrats, including Representative Ed Koch, New York Secretary of State Mario Cuomo, and feminist activist and former Representative Bella Abzug...
, Goodman ran for Mayor of New York City
Mayor of New York City
The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
. He defeated Barry Farber
Barry Farber
Barry M. Farber is an American conservative radio talk show host, author and language-learning enthusiast. In 2002, industry publication Talkers magazine ranked him the 9th greatest radio talk show host of all time. He has also written articles appearing in the New York Times, Reader's Digest,...
, a talk radio host in the Republican primary. In the general election, Goodman finished third behind Democratic Congressman Edward I. Koch and New York Secretary of State Mario Cuomo
Mario Cuomo
Mario Matthew Cuomo served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994, and is the father of Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of New York.-Early life:...
, a Democrat who ran on the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of New York
The Liberal Party of New York is a minor American political party that has been active only in the state of New York. Its platform supports a standard set of social liberal policies: it supports right to abortion, increased spending on education, and universal health care.As of 2007, the Liberal...
ticket.
Role in the 1990 governor's race
Goodman is notorious among New York Republicans for his role in picking Pierre Rinfret, the Republican Party's candidate for New York State governorGovernor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
in 1990. State Republicans had difficulty in finding a candidate to run against the Democratic incumbent Mario Cuomo
Mario Cuomo
Mario Matthew Cuomo served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994, and is the father of Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of New York.-Early life:...
, who was considered unbeatable. Goodman checked his Rolodex
Rolodex
A Rolodex is a rotating file device used to store business contact information currently manufactured by Newell Rubbermaid. The Rolodex holds specially shaped index cards; the user writes the contact information for one person or company on each card...
and found Rinfret, whom he knew socially. Goodman picked Rinfret because he was pro-choice
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
on abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
and, as a millionaire economist, could spend some of his own money on the campaign. Rinfret's campaign quickly became a disaster and a national laughing-stock for the Republicans. He often made angry outbursts and bitterly attacked his fellow Republicans. On Election Day, Rinfret received about 21 percent of the vote and barely outpolled Herb London, the candidate of the NYS Conservative Party.
As New York County Republican Chairman
In 1981, Goodman became chairman of the New York County (Manhattan) Republican Party. In Goodman's first decade as county chairman, the only Republican elected official in Manhattan was liberal Congressman Bill GreenS. William Green
Sedgwick William "Bill" Green was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New York....
who won Mayor Ed Koch's old congressional seat in 1977,
Goodman's tenure in the 1990s witnessed the expansion and then the contraction of the Republican Party in Manhattan. In 1990, Republican John Ravitz
John Ravitz
John Ravitz is a former member of the New York State Assembly. A liberal Republican, he represented a district in Manhattan from 1991 to 2002. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the New York State Senate in a special election on February 13, 2002. After leaving office, Ravitz served as the...
was elected to the NYS Assembly. In 1991, Charles Millard
Charles E.F. Millard
Charles E.F. Millard is the former Director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation . He was the first director of the PBGC to be confirmed by the United States Senate and ran the agency from May 2007 to January 2009. As Director, Mr. Millard was the chief executive officer of the PBGC...
was elected to the New York City Council. In 1993, Andrew Eristoff
Andrew Eristoff
Andrew P. Sidamon-Eristoff is a Republican Party politician from New York City who currently serves as New Jersey State Treasurer under Governor Chris Christie...
also won election to the Council.
In 1992, Bill Green was ousted by Carolyn Maloney, who has been in Congress ever since. Millard attempted to win back the seat for Republicans in 1994, but he was soundly defeated. Both Millard and Eristoff eventually left the City Council, and their seats were won by Democrats. In 2002, Ravitz ran for Goodman's seat in a special election, but lost to Liz Krueger
Liz Krueger
Liz Krueger is a member of the New York State Senate, representing a district on the East Side of Manhattan.She was first elected in February 2002 during a special election. Krueger is the ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee. She was Chairwoman of NY's Democratic Senate Campaign...
. Ravitz decided not to seek re-election to the Assembly in the fall, and Democrat Jonathan Bing
Jonathan Bing
Jonathan L. Bing is an American attorney and politician. As a member of the United States Democratic Party, he represented the of the New York State Assembly...
took his seat.
Goodman himself was nearly defeated in 2000 by Liz Krueger. At first, Krueger was leading Goodman by several hundred votes. After a recount and the counting of the absentee ballots, Goodman was declared the winner in late December. Goodman resigned from the State Senate in early 2002.
Since Goodman's departure from office, no other Republican has been elected to office in Manhattan.
Other service
Goodman is President and CEO of the United Nations Development CorporationUnited Nations Development Corporation
The United Nations Development Corporation is a public benefit corporation in New York State that helps the United Nations with its real estate and development needs....
, a position he first occupied in 2002.
He is a Fellow For Life of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
, a patron of the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
, a Patron of the New York Philharmonic Society, president of the Goodman Family Foundation, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
.
He attended Camp Androscoggin
Camp Androscoggin
Camp Androscoggin is an all-boys summer camp in Wayne, Maine, and one of the oldest in the state. It is ACA accredited. It was founded in 1906 by Edward M...
.