William Lantigua
Encyclopedia
William Lantigua is a Dominican American
politician in Massachusetts
. He became Mayor of Lawrence, Massachusetts
in January 2010 following his November 2009 defeat of Lawrence City Councilor David Abdoo. Upon taking office, Lantigua became the first elected and second serving Hispanic mayor in Massachusetts history.
on February 19, 1955 to Enrique Lantigua and Ana Elvira Soto. Lantigua has three siblings one sister and two brothers. He moved to the United States in 1974 from the Dominican Republic. Educated in the Dominican Republic and later worked for 23 years for Schneider Electric in North Andover, MA. William Lantigua is the father of three daughters; Veronica, Vanessa, and Valerie as well as his son William Kennedy.
For years during the 1990s, Lantigua worked as an organizer in the City of Lawrence helping elect Jose Santiago, the second Puerto Rican to serve in the Massachusetts House of Representatives (the first was Nelson Merced, elected in 1988) and later Mary-Ellen Manning to Massachusetts Governor's Council over incumbent and Mayor of Lawrence Patricia Dowling.
in 2002. In 2004 Jose Santiago again ran against Lantigua eventually losing for a second time. In 2006 Lantigua decided to run for the first time as a Democrat this time being challenged by long time city councilor and former Mayor of Lawrence Marcos Devers
. But Lantigua was able to have Devers removed from the ballot challenging his residency in the district since Devers lived in the district under one year. Lantigua went on to win the election unopposed. In 2008 Devers again challenged Lantigua in the Democratic primary this time with his name on the ballot only to lose by 399 votes. Lantigua was unchallenged in the general election winning his 4th election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Lantigua was State Representative of the 16th Essex district from 2003 until his resignation February 2010.
As a State Representative, he served as Vice-Chairman of the Elder Affairs Committee and as a member of the Way’s and Means Committee along with the Committee on Bonding and Capital Expenses. Lantigua also served two one-year terms as chair of the Massachusetts Black Legislative Caucus.
of Passaic, New Jersey, elected in 2008 and Marcos Devers
who was appointed in 2001 to fill the vacant position left by Mayor Patricia Dowling.
Lantigua caused controversy when fellow lawmakers on Beacon Hill questioned his ability to hold the position of mayor and State Representative simultaneously in the midst of a citywide financial crisis.
Simultaneously holding state and municipal elected positions in Massachusetts has occurred before but Lawrence's time requirements were higher under financial reorganization. The commute time was also higher than for example Saundra Graham or Timothy Toomey who were from Cambridge.
In April 2011 Lantigua was the subject of a federal investigation into possible corruption and other potential wrongdoing. This investigation was the latest in a series of bizarre events that have led to a recall petition to oust Lantigua from office after 15 tumultuous months.
On May 11, 2011 Lantigua was criticized for receiving fuel assistance (along with his girlfriend, with whom he is currently living) totaling possibly $1,165, despite a combined household income of $145,000. Lantigua later returned the money, but still faces the fallout from the ongoing appearance of impropriety.
Dominican American
A Dominican American is any American who has origins in the Dominican Republic.Immigration records of Dominicans in the United States date from the late 19th century, and New York City has had a Dominican community since the 1930s...
politician in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. He became Mayor of Lawrence, Massachusetts
Lawrence, Massachusetts
Lawrence is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States on the Merrimack River. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a total population of 76,377. Surrounding communities include Methuen to the north, Andover to the southwest, and North Andover to the southeast. It and Salem are...
in January 2010 following his November 2009 defeat of Lawrence City Councilor David Abdoo. Upon taking office, Lantigua became the first elected and second serving Hispanic mayor in Massachusetts history.
Early life and career
William Lantigua was born in the Dominican RepublicDominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
on February 19, 1955 to Enrique Lantigua and Ana Elvira Soto. Lantigua has three siblings one sister and two brothers. He moved to the United States in 1974 from the Dominican Republic. Educated in the Dominican Republic and later worked for 23 years for Schneider Electric in North Andover, MA. William Lantigua is the father of three daughters; Veronica, Vanessa, and Valerie as well as his son William Kennedy.
For years during the 1990s, Lantigua worked as an organizer in the City of Lawrence helping elect Jose Santiago, the second Puerto Rican to serve in the Massachusetts House of Representatives (the first was Nelson Merced, elected in 1988) and later Mary-Ellen Manning to Massachusetts Governor's Council over incumbent and Mayor of Lawrence Patricia Dowling.
Massachusetts House of Representatives
In 2002 Lantigua, ran as an independent against Democrat Jose Santiago and was elected a member of the Massachusetts House of RepresentativesMassachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
in 2002. In 2004 Jose Santiago again ran against Lantigua eventually losing for a second time. In 2006 Lantigua decided to run for the first time as a Democrat this time being challenged by long time city councilor and former Mayor of Lawrence Marcos Devers
Marcos Devers
Marcos A. Devers is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and a former acting mayor of Lawrence, Massachusetts...
. But Lantigua was able to have Devers removed from the ballot challenging his residency in the district since Devers lived in the district under one year. Lantigua went on to win the election unopposed. In 2008 Devers again challenged Lantigua in the Democratic primary this time with his name on the ballot only to lose by 399 votes. Lantigua was unchallenged in the general election winning his 4th election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Lantigua was State Representative of the 16th Essex district from 2003 until his resignation February 2010.
As a State Representative, he served as Vice-Chairman of the Elder Affairs Committee and as a member of the Way’s and Means Committee along with the Committee on Bonding and Capital Expenses. Lantigua also served two one-year terms as chair of the Massachusetts Black Legislative Caucus.
Mayor of Lawrence
Upon taking office, Lantigua became the second Hispanic mayor in Massachusetts history and only the third Dominican-American Mayor in the United States, after Mayor Alex BlancoAlex Blanco
Alex Blanco is an American politician and mayor of Passaic, New Jersey, United States. He is the first elected and second serving Dominican-American mayor in the United States .-Biography:...
of Passaic, New Jersey, elected in 2008 and Marcos Devers
Marcos Devers
Marcos A. Devers is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and a former acting mayor of Lawrence, Massachusetts...
who was appointed in 2001 to fill the vacant position left by Mayor Patricia Dowling.
Lantigua caused controversy when fellow lawmakers on Beacon Hill questioned his ability to hold the position of mayor and State Representative simultaneously in the midst of a citywide financial crisis.
Simultaneously holding state and municipal elected positions in Massachusetts has occurred before but Lawrence's time requirements were higher under financial reorganization. The commute time was also higher than for example Saundra Graham or Timothy Toomey who were from Cambridge.
In April 2011 Lantigua was the subject of a federal investigation into possible corruption and other potential wrongdoing. This investigation was the latest in a series of bizarre events that have led to a recall petition to oust Lantigua from office after 15 tumultuous months.
On May 11, 2011 Lantigua was criticized for receiving fuel assistance (along with his girlfriend, with whom he is currently living) totaling possibly $1,165, despite a combined household income of $145,000. Lantigua later returned the money, but still faces the fallout from the ongoing appearance of impropriety.