Adam Clayton Powell IV

Powell was born to civil rights leader and former congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and his third wife Yvette Diago in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was named Adam Clayton Powell Diago, as is the Spanish naming custom of using the mother's surname as part of his official name. Powell's maternal grandfather Gonzalo Diago was a mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico and served as such from 1941 to 1945.{{Cite web|url=http://www.enciclopediapr.org/esp/article.cfm?ref=07122101&page=3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924000506/http://www.enciclopediapr.org/esp/article.cfm?ref=07122101&page=3|url-status=dead|title=Municipios – Acerca de San Juan|archivedate=September 24, 2015|accessdate=March 31, 2023}} When his parents separated, Powell's mother was granted custody, and he was raised and educated in Puerto Rico.

In 1980, Powell moved to the mainland United States to study at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. He changed his surname by dropping his mother's surname "Diago". He then continued to use the name Adam Clayton Powell IV. This has caused confusion as his half-nephew, 8 years younger than he, was also named Adam Clayton Powell IV. He later earned a Juris Doctor degree from Fordham University School of Law in New York.{{Cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n5_v45/ai_8540115/pg_2|title=Ebony|accessdate=March 31, 2023}}

Powell ran successfully for the New York City Council in 1991.{{cite news|last=Mckinley |first=James C. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/28/nyregion/in-harlem-race-big-name-vs-political-clan.html |title=In Harlem Race, Big Name vs. Political Clan |work=The New York Times |date=October 28, 1991 |accessdate=January 17, 2010}}

Powell actually lost the Democratic primary vote by 34 votes to William (Bill) Del Toro in a seven-person field. Del Toro and his brother Assemblyman Angelo Del Toro, were powerful players in East Harlem politics for two decades with Angelo as a powerful Assembly committee chairman. Powell sued for a new election. His Campaign Manager Geoffrey L. Garfield, spent a month at the Board of Elections combing through every registered voter card (“buff card”) to ascertain whether non-Democrats voted in the primary. They found over 1,000 voters whom did not properly check the “party affiliation” box on the form. Del Toro sued to stop the effort by declaring “defective service” of legal documents to Del Toro’s home. Powell was successful in a hearing with an Elections Department Referee; on appeal the lower Supreme Court reversed the decision. Powell appealed to the state’s Appellate division where a five-judge panel ruled in Powell’s favor and mandated a Special Election the following week. Powell won 73-27 percent of the vote. (Source: Geoffrey L. Garfield, Campaign Manager) In 1994, Powell challenged Representative Charles B. Rangel for his seat in the United States House of Representatives, but lost. In 1997, he ran for Manhattan borough president, but lost to C. Virginia Fields.[http://observer.com/2009/10/charlie-rangels-oldnew-challenger/ Charlie Rangel’s Old-New Challenger.] Steve Kornacki. October 16, 2009. New York Observer.

Powell worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).{{when|date=July 2014}} In 2001, he participated and was arrested in the Vieques protests, which demanded the departure of the U.S. Navy from that island.

When Rangel retired in 2016, Powell ran again for the House seat. He lost to state Senator Adriano Espaillat.{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/adam-clayton-powell-iv-running-congress-blog-entry-1.2085840|title=Adam Clayton Powell IV launches bid for NY-13 Congressional seat his dad once held|publisher=NY Daily News|date=January 20, 2015|accessdate=January 22, 2015}}

Powell married Andrea Dial, a former Ebony Fashion Fair model. They had a son, Adam Clayton Powell V, before divorcing in the mid-1990s.

Powell was a Co-Producer of “Keep the Faith, Baby!”, a Showtime/Paramount Television feature film on the life and career of his father Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr.

When Powell ran for Congress in 1994, he raised $64,000, 10% of which came from residents of his state,

name="villagevoice2000">{{cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2000-08-22/news/the-prodigal-son-returns |title=The Prodigal Son Returns|publisher=The Village voice|date=August 22, 2000|accessdate=July 21, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.afrocubaweb.com/rangel.htm#funds |title=Charles B. Rangel, Congressman |publisher=Afrocubaweb.com |accessdate=January 17, 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100102150537/http://afrocubaweb.com/rangel.htm| archivedate= January 2, 2010 | url-status= live}} while the remainder were donated by contributors from Miami and New Jersey, including $5000 from Free Cuba PAC, Inc.,{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P1-2267723.html |title=Rangel, Powell spar – New York Amsterdam News |publisher=Encyclopedia.com |accessdate=January 17, 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-2265863.html |title=Article: 'Harlem not for sale!' clergy urge Candidate Adam Clayton Powell IV – New York Amsterdam News | HighBeam Research |publisher=Highbeam.com |date=August 20, 1994 |accessdate=January 17, 2010}}{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} headed by leading Cuban-exile community figure Jorge Mas Canosa who made a $1000 personal donation to Powell.{{cite web|author=Antonio de la Cova |url=http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/exile/canosa.htm |title=No Mas Canosa – the death of Cuban political figure Jorge Mas Canosa – Obituary |publisher=Latinamericanstudies.org |accessdate=January 17, 2010}}

Powell spent $1,200 of his campaign funds traveling to Ireland.{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/09/06/2009-09-06_pols_living_high_on_their_campaign_hogs_money_meant_to_fund_races_goes_for_cars_.html?page=2 | title=Too many loopholes: Campaign money goes for cars, spas & travel |publisher=NY Daily News |date=September 6, 2009 |accessdate=January 17, 2010 | location=New York | first1=Robert | last1=Gearty | first2=Barbara | last2=Ross | first3=Benjamin | last3=Lesser}}[http://solanaanderik.com/articles/AlbanyCampaignSpending.pdf Albany campaign spending] Powell said he accompanied several lawmakers on the Ireland trip, which was sponsored by the New York American-Irish Legislators Society as a means to raise awareness of the issues that affect the Irish community.

In 2008, Powell was arrested and charged for allegedly driving while intoxicated (DWI) on the Henry Hudson Parkway in New York City.{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/03/06/2008-03-06_harlem_pol_adam_clayton_powell_4th_buste-3.html |title=Harlem pol Adam Clayton Powell 4th busted for DUI |publisher=NY Daily News |date=March 8, 2008 |accessdate=January 17, 2010 | location=New York | first1=Tanangachi | last1=Mfuni | first2=Rich | last2=Schapiro}}{{cite web |last=Del |first=John |url=http://gothamist.com/2008/03/06/assemblyman_ada.php |title=Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell 4th Arrested for DUI |publisher=Gothamist |date=March 6, 2008 |accessdate=January 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100313000342/http://gothamist.com/2008/03/06/assemblyman_ada.php |archivedate=March 13, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/07/nyregion/07powell.html?_r=1 | work=The New York Times | title=Assemblyman Faces a Charge of Drunken Driving | first1=Anemona | last1=Hartocollis | first2=Colin | last2=Moynihan | date=March 7, 2008 | accessdate=April 23, 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160408021118/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/07/nyregion/07powell.html?_r=1| archivedate=April 8, 2016| url-status= live}} He was acquitted of driving while intoxicated and found guilty of the lesser charge of driving while impaired. This charge is considered a traffic violation rather than a criminal conviction. One juror commented, "the whole thing is we didn't think he was drunk."{{cite news|url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/powell_acquitted_impaired_dwi_charge_F2LvaHmMePJzpIPA4hTneN|title=Adam Clayton Powell IV acquitted of DWI charge, found guilty of driving while impaired|work=The New York Post|date=March 25, 2010|accessdate=March 25, 2010 | first=Laura | last=Italiano| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100328162556/http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/powell_acquitted_impaired_dwi_charge_F2LvaHmMePJzpIPA4hTneN| archivedate= March 28, 2010 | url-status= live}}

{{See also|United States House of Representatives elections in New York, 2010}}

Powell lost to Charles Rangel in the 2010 primary for the 15th district.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/14/AR2010091407143.html|title=Despite ethics cloud, Rangel easily wins primary|newspaper=Washington Post|date=September 15, 2010|accessdate=September 15, 2010 | first=Paul | last=Kane}}

{{Portal|Puerto Rico}}

• List of Puerto Ricans

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060225060506/http://www.adamclaytonpowell.com/family_tree.htm Adam Clayton Powell family tree contains a mini biography of Adam Clayton Powell IV]
• {{C-SPAN|7549}}

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{{Succession box|title=New York City Council, 8th district|before=Carolyn Maloney|years=1992–1997|after=Philip Reed }}

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{{Succession box|title=New York State Assembly, 68th District|before=Nelson Antonio Denis|years=2001–2010|after=Robert J. Rodriguez }}

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Category:1962 births

Category:Living people

Category:African-American state legislators in New York (state)

Category:Puerto Rican people in New York (state) politics

Category:American politicians of Puerto Rican descent

Category:Fordham University School of Law alumni

Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in New York (state)

Category:Howard University alumni

Category:Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly

Category:New York City Council members

Category:Politicians from San Juan, Puerto Rico

Category:Powell family (New York)

Category:African-American New York City Council members

Category:Hispanic and Latino American New York City Council members

Category:21st-century members of the New York State Legislature

Category:21st-century African-American politicians