Morton “Morty” Povman, who was the longest-serving New York City Council Member, died Tuesday due to complications of pancreatic cancer.
Povman served in the role from 1971-2001, representing what was initially New York’s 15th congressional district and later the 24th congressional district, which covers Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens, Kew Gardens Hills, Briarwood and Fresh Meadows. After 31 years in office, Povman retired because of term limits.
Povman was born and raised in Brooklyn. His parents were Russian Jewish immigrants. After graduating first in his class at Brooklyn Law School, Povman served as the editor-in-chief of the legal periodical “Law Review” before founding his own law office in Forest Hills. Throughout his long legal career, he assisted several tenant and civic associations as he took on pro-bono cases.
In 1960, Povman first got involved in politics when he joined the 7th Assembly District Democratic Club in Richmond Hill. While he initially did so in an effort to find more clients, Povman soon became legal counsel to the club’s leader, former New York State Assembly Majority Leader Moses Weinstein. After Weinstein left the club in 1970 to assume a judgeship, Povman stepped in to take over as district leader. He ended up maintaining that position throughout the entirety of his term in the City Council.
In 1971, following Council Member Donald Manes’ departure to pursue the Queens Borough President role, Povman seized the opportunity to run for the vacated position. His election victory marked the beginning of a 31-year tenure in office.
While Povman received offers over the years for higher political offices, he turned them all down, as he was very comfortable serving as a council member. Among the opportunities he turned down were for congressman, Queens borough president and a judgeship in the Queens division of the Supreme Court. “I was never power-driven. I was never pressing for any office except City…
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