AP: Former New York Congressman Manton Dies

[Eugene]

Former New York Congressman Manton Dies

Sunday, July 23, 2006

(07-23) 04:16 PDT New York (AP) --

Queens Democratic Chairman Thomas Manton, a former congressman who for years wielded
his influence to shape the city's political landscape, has died. He was 73.

The seven-term congressman, who fostered the careers of City Council Speaker Christine
Quinn and other local political figures, died Saturday of an undisclosed and lengthy
illness, said Michael Reich, the Queens Democratic Party's executive secretary and
Manton's spokesman.

Elected 20 years ago to his post as party chairman, Manton was known as a behind-the-scenes
politician. When he announced his retirement from Congress in 1998, he successfully
hand-picked his successor, and he played a role in the selection of the two latest City
Council speakers.

Manton served 15 years on the New York City Council before taking over Geraldine Ferraro's
congressional seat when she ran for vice president with Walter Mondale in 1984. As a
congressman, he had little problem getting re-elected, winning with 87 percent of the vote
in 1994.

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Full article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/07/23/national/a041635D53.DTL