View source for Edolphus Towns

{{Short description|American politician (born 1934)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name          = Ed Towns
|image         = Edolphus Towns portrait.jpg
|office        = Chair of the [[United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform|House Oversight Committee]]
|term_start    = January 3, 2009
|term_end      = January 3, 2011
|predecessor   = [[Henry Waxman]]
|successor     = [[Darrell Issa]]
|state1        = [[New York (state)|New York]]
|term_start1   = January 3, 1983
|term_end1     = January 3, 2013
|predecessor1  = [[James H. Scheuer]]
|successor1    = [[Hakeem Jeffries]] (redistricted)
|constituency1 = {{ubl |{{ushr|NY|11|C}} (1983–1993) |{{ushr|NY|10|C}} (1993–2013)}}
|birth_name    = Edolphus Towns Jr.
|birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1934|7|21}}
|birth_place   = [[Chadbourn, North Carolina]], U.S.
|death_date    = 
|death_place   = 
|party         = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|spouse        = Gwen Forbes
|children      = 2, including [[Darryl C. Towns|Darryl]]
|education     = [[North Carolina A&T State University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])<br>[[Adelphi University]] ([[Master of Social Work|MSW]])
|allegiance    = {{flag|United States|1912}}
|branch        = {{army|United States}}
|serviceyears  = 1956–1958
|module        = {{Listen |pos=center |embed=yes |filename=Rep. Edolphus Towns on the Retirement of Rep. Thomas Manton.ogg |title=Towns's voice |type=speech |description=Towns honoring retiring U.S. Rep. [[Thomas Manton (politician)|Thomas Manton]].<br>Recorded October 14, 1998}}
}}
'''Edolphus''' "'''Ed'''" '''Towns Jr.''' (born July 21, 1934) is an American educator, military veteran, and politician who served in the [[United States House of Representatives]] from 1983 to 2013. A [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] from [[New York (state)|New York]], Towns was Chairman of the [[House Oversight and Government Reform Committee]] from 2009 to 2011.

During his 30 years in Congress, Towns represented districts based in [[Brooklyn]]: first {{ushr|NY|11}}, from 1983 to 1993, and then the {{ushr|NY|10|10th district}} from 1993 to 2013.

==Early life, education, and early career==
Towns was born in [[Chadbourn, North Carolina]], the son of Versie (née Brown) and Edolphus Towns.<ref>http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/%7Ebattle/reps/towns.htm {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=June 2022}}</ref> He graduated from West Side High School, Chadbourn, North Carolina in 1952. He earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from [[North Carolina A&T State University]] in 1956 and a master's degree in social work from [[Adelphi University]] in 1973. Towns is a member of [[Phi Beta Sigma]] fraternity.

Towns was an administrator at [[Beth Israel Medical Center]], a professor at New York's [[Medgar Evers College]] and [[Fordham University]], and a public school teacher teaching orientation and mobility to [[blindness|blind]] students. In 1956, he joined the [[United States Army]] as a private and received basic combat training at [[Fort Hood]], Texas with the [[4th Armored Division (United States)|4th Armored Division]].<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/667307628/ "Armed Forces"], ''[[The Tabor City Tribune]]'', Tabor City, North Carolina, November 14, 1956, page 6. {{subscription required}}.</ref> He served until 1958. He was also an ordained [[Baptist]] [[Minister of religion|minister]].

In 1970, he ran for [[New York Assembly]] District 38, and was defeated in the Democratic primary by John Mullally, 75%–25%.<ref>[http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=512208 1970 campaign info, Cummings v Mullally]</ref> In 1972, he ran in District 40 and was defeated in the Democratic primary by [[Edward Griffith (American politician)|Edward Griffith]], who won the primary with a plurality of 37%.<ref>[http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=244007 1972 campaign info, Cummings v Griffith]</ref>

==U.S. House of Representatives==

===Elections===
After redistricting, Towns ran for the open seat in the Brooklyn-based [[New York's 11th congressional district]]. Towns won the Democratic primary with a plurality of 48%,<ref>[http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=230854 Cummings campaign info]</ref> and won the general election with 84% of the vote.<ref>[http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=37497 Cummings campaign info]</ref> He never won a general election campaign with less than 85% of the vote.<ref>[http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=1986 Cummings campaign info]</ref> He has won the Democratic primary with at least 60% of the vote all but three times (1998, 2000, and 2006).

From 1996 to 1998, Towns was in a rivalry with Brooklyn Democratic Party Chairman Clarence Norman. In addition, he has received criticism for endorsing Republican [[Rudy Giuliani]] for [[Mayor of New York City]] in [[1997 New York City mayoral election|1997]]. He was challenged in the 1998 primaries by Barry D. Ford, a 35-year-old lawyer with the firm of [[Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/08/nyregion/expert-fund-raiser-challenges-congressman.html?src=pm|work=The New York Times|first=Jonathan P.|last=Hicks|title=Expert Fund-Raiser Challenges Congressman|date=June 8, 1998}}</ref> and also faced a challenge from political activist Ken Diamondstone. Towns won the primary with 55% of the vote.<ref>[http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=106364 Cummings campaign info]</ref> In 2000, Ford ran for a rematch against Towns and lost 57%–43%.<ref>[http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=147353 Cummings campaign info, 2000]</ref>

In 2006, Towns faced Democratic primary challenges from [[Charles Barron]], a member of the [[New York City Council]], and [[Roger L. Green|Roger Green]], a former member of the [[New York State Assembly]]. Barron was a staunch ally of [[Al Sharpton]]. Green was convicted of stealing $3,000 in taxpayer dollars.<ref>[http://brooklynpapers.com/html/issues/_vol29/29_29/29_29green.html "Roger Green must drop out"]{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Towns defeated Barron and Green 47%–37%–15%,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=364402|title=Our Campaigns - NY District 10 - D Primary Race - Sep 12, 2006}}</ref> the worst primary performance of his career. In 2012, Towns endorsed Barron in the race for his Congressional seat, but Barron was routed by a 72–28% margin and the seat went to [[Hakeem Jeffries]].

[[Kevin Powell]], a [[Hip Hop Activism|hip hop activist]], writer, and former cast member on the [[MTV]] [[Reality TV]] show ''[[The Real World (TV series)|The Real World]]'', opted out of challenging Towns for the 2006 Democratic nomination,<ref>[http://www.r8ny.com/blog/rock_hackshaw/kevin_powell_to_withdraw_from_10th_congressional_race.html "Kevin Powell To Withdraw From 10th Congressional Race"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060704103954/http://www.r8ny.com/blog/rock_hackshaw/kevin_powell_to_withdraw_from_10th_congressional_race.html |date=2006-07-04 }}</ref> challenging him in 2008 instead. Powell criticized Towns for supporting [[Hillary Clinton]] over [[Barack Obama]] in the Democratic presidential primaries. Towns defeated Powell 69%–31%.<ref>[http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=27&id=23062 "Primary Elections: Big Changes in Brooklyn"]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=686230|title=Our Campaigns - NY District 10 - D Primary Race - Sep 14, 2010}}</ref>

===Tenure===
Towns served on the [[United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce|Energy and Commerce Committee]]{{When|date=November 2010}} and is a member of the [[Congressional Black Caucus]]. On January 7, 2009, his proposed legislation to require information on Presidential donors kicked off the new session of the 111th Congress.<ref>[http://www.opencongress.org/wiki/Presidential_Library_Donation_Reform_Act_of_2009 "OpenCongress: Presidential Library Donation Reform Act of 2009"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100228025543/http://www.opencongress.org/wiki/Presidential_Library_Donation_Reform_Act_of_2009 |date=2010-02-28 }}</ref> Towns' past accomplishments include, co-sponsoring or enacting several pieces of federal legislation, including the Student Right To Know Act, which mandated the reporting of the rate of graduation among student athletes, creating the Telecommunications Development Fund, which provides capital for minority business initiatives, and the development of a federal program for poison control centers.<ref>[http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/index.php/Edolphus_%22Ed%22_Towns Towns' profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901170752/http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/index.php/Edolphus_%22Ed%22_Towns |date=2006-09-01 }}, demopedia.democraticunderground.com</ref>

He had been targeted by various Democratic Party constituencies, including factions led by his political rival [[Al Sharpton]], and national and local labor unions, who resent his support for passage of the [[Central American Free Trade Agreement]], which passed the House of Representatives by a razor-thin margin. In addition, he has been heavily criticized for taking money from telecom [[Political Action Committee|PAC]]s and opposing [[net neutrality]]. {{citation needed|date=October 2013}}

He put particular emphasis on arguing in behalf of underserved Brooklyn communities, and has won recognition from several organizations for his efforts. The [[National Audubon Society]] has honored him for his efforts in fighting to secure federal funds for the restoration of Prospect Park. Towns fought to have [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] testing in the aftermath of the [[September 11 attacks]], including neighborhoods outside of the borough of [[Manhattan]]. {{citation needed|date=October 2013}}

[[Image:Ed Towns, Shirley Chisholm, Gwen Towns.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Edolphus Towns and wife Gwen meet with [[Shirley Chisholm]] (center)]]
Towns delayed the investigation into [[Countrywide Financial]]'s VIP loan program when he was the House oversight panel's chairman by refusing to issue a subpoena for [[Bank of America]] records. After ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' reported that public loan documents indicated Towns had received two mortgages from the VIP program, he issued the subpoena and his office denied wrongdoing.<ref>John R. Emshwiller. [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704746804575367402389009686?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_news Senate VIP Loans Mount "Countrywide Dealt With More Lawmakers and Staffers Than Previously Known", ''Wall Street Journal'', July 15, 2010]</ref>

In December 2010, he announced that he would not seek the position of [[Ranking Minority Member]] of the Oversight Committee in the next Congress, even though his seniority and service as Chair would typically result in him filling this post. Towns reportedly withdrew due to lack of support from [[Nancy Pelosi]], who reportedly feared Towns would not be a sufficiently aggressive leader in an anticipated struggle with incoming committee chair [[Darrell Issa]] (R-CA).<ref name="tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com">{{Cite web|url=http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/pelosi-power-play-doomed-towns-on-oversight-committee.php|title=Category: DC &#124; Talking Points Memo|work=TPM |last1=Beutler |first1=Brian }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dc/2010/12/ed-towns-steps-down-sources-bl.html |location=New York |work=Daily News |title=Ed Towns Steps Down; Sources Blame White House |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216103943/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dc/2010/12/ed-towns-steps-down-sources-bl.html |archive-date=2010-12-16 }}</ref> Towns's successor is [[Elijah Cummings]], who defeated [[Carolyn Maloney]] in a vote of the House Democratic Caucus.<ref name="tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com"/>

On April 16, 2012, Towns announced he would be retiring at the end of his 15th term.<ref name=retirement>{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/nycs-towns-retiring-30-years-congress-145402676.html|title=NYC's Towns retiring after 30 years in Congress|last=Dobnik|first=Verena|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|date=2012-04-16}}</ref> His district had been renumbered as the 8th district in redistricting and had a significant increase of white voters, though it still had a large black majority.<ref name="retirement" />

===Committee assignments===
* [[United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce|Committee on Energy and Commerce]]
** [[United States House Energy Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade|Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade]]
** [[United States House Energy Subcommittee on Communications and Technology|Subcommittee on Communications and Technology]]
** [[United States House Energy Subcommittee on Health|Subcommittee on Health]]
* [[United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform|Committee on Oversight and Government Reform]]
** [[United States House Oversight Subcommittee on Government Organization, Efficiency and Financial Management|Subcommittee on Government Organization, Efficiency and Financial Management]] (Ranking Member)

===Caucus memberships===
* [[Congressional Black Caucus]]
* [[Democratic Caucus of the United States House of Representatives|House Democratic Caucus]]
* Congressional COPD Caucus
* [[United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus|International Conservation Caucus]]
* Congressional Arts Caucus

== Later career ==
After leaving Congress, Towns became a senior advisor for the government relations and lobbying firm Gray Global Advisors.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.grayglobaladvisors.com/team/hon-edolphus-towns | title=Gray Global Advisors team: Hon. Edolphus Towns | website=Gray Global Advisors}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Towns is married to the former Gwendolyn Forbes and they reside in the [[East New York, Brooklyn#Cypress Hills|Cypress Hills]] section of [[Brooklyn]]. They have two children, [[Darryl Towns|Darryl]] (who had served in the [[New York State Assembly]] but vacated his seat to become commissioner and chief executive of New York State Homes and Community Renewal agency when appointed by Gov. [[Andrew Cuomo]]) and Deidra, who ran in special election to replace her brother, on a self-created ticket, Community First. {{citation needed|date=October 2013}}

He is a distant cousin of [[White House press corps|White House correspondent]] [[April Ryan]].{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

==See also==
*[[List of African-American United States representatives]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{wikisource|works=or}}
*[http://www.house.gov/towns/ U.S. Representative Edolphus Towns] ''official U.S. House website''
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080926221656/http://reelectedtowns.com/ Re-Elect Congressman Ed Towns] ''official campaign website''
{{CongLinks | congbio=t000326 | votesmart= | fec=H2NY11017 | congress= }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061127103534/http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Ed_Towns Profile] at
* {{C-SPAN|6807}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Towns, Ed}}
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:21st-century New York (state) politicians]]
[[Category:Adelphi University alumni]]
[[Category:African-American United States representatives]]
[[Category:African-American people in New York (state) politics]]
[[Category:African-American United States Army personnel]]
[[Category:Baptists from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Baptists from North Carolina]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of Congress who became lobbyists]]
[[Category:Military personnel from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Military personnel from North Carolina]]
[[Category:North Carolina A&T State University alumni]]
[[Category:People from East New York, Brooklyn]]
[[Category:People from Columbus County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]