User:Khurley86/Edward Griffith (politician)

Edward Griffith (Politician)

Edward Griffith (born November 1930) is a retired American politician. Griffith is a former Democratic-liberal member and Assistant Speaker of the New York State Assembly. Griffith served his terms in the 40th State Assembly District representing the East New York section of Brooklyn in the New York State Assembly from 1972 to 2000.

Political Career
Griffith began his 28-year political career in 1972 after he defeated Congressman Edolphus Towns in the District 40 Democratic primary.

While an Assemblyman, Griffith was an advocate for social justice and transparency in the community. In 1976, after a 15-year-old black boy was shot by a police officer, Griffith joined a task force with then Mayor Abraham Beame, former police commissioner Michael Codd, and a host of the other black community leaders to investigate and discuss the incident.

During the 1981 NYC mayoral campaign, Griffith supported Mayor Ed Koch's candidacy along with Shirley Chisholm. Together they were the only two black Brooklyn politicians to openly champion Koch's reelection.

In 1990-1991, New York-Indian relations were among many of the subjects on the table while Griffith served as Assistant Speaker of the New York State Assembly.

In 1997, Griffith was sponsor of the Chiropractic Insurance Equality bill. He worked along with the New York State Chiropractic Association to make sure that insurance carriers covered chiropractic treatment.

2000 Election
The Brooklyn community that Griffith served for almost 30 years experienced a huge upset in 2000 when he lost the 40th State Assembly District election to his former aide Diane Gordon in a very close race.

Community Impact
In 2002, Brooklyn College Library gave a special thanks to Griffith at the grand opening of their "The Once and Future Library" for his urging of the Assembly to make the library project a priority while he was in office.

Personal and Family History
Griffith and his wife were married in Panama where he was born and raised. Together they have one daughter, Sabrina Hurley, and three grandchildren, Matthew Hurley Jr., Kathryn Hurley, and Maria Hurley.