Butler Had Long, Varied Career Path, Many
Successes As
Lawmaker
by john toscano

During most of his adult life, Butler, (r.), had an interest in politics as a member of the Powhatan Regular Democratic Club.

Seminary student, advertising salesman at a radio station, political and community leader in the Long Island City–Astoria area, and state assemblymember for a quarter of a century.

These are the career highlights of Assemblymember Denis Butler as he approaches his recently announced retirement on Dec. 31st.

But although the 72-year-old, Astoria-born public official experienced these several career changes over the past half-century spanning his adult life, the traces of those experiences are etched indelibly in his character and personality.

The beginning of Butler’s service as as assemblymember and the start of a tour of duty covering the state legislature in Albany by this reporter led to our first meeting in 1976.

Butler at headquarters after winning bid for 35th AD seat in ‘98.

The tall, thin, soft-spoken and gentle man has often been referred to good naturedly by his friends and peers as "The Reverend," in part because of the way he acts and looks, in part because he once attended St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers as a young man.

Responding to a question regarding that phase of his life, Butler said he was "serious enough" about becoming a priest, "enough to spend three years in the seminary. But ultimately I made a decision that it was not really my vocation," Butler said in an interview last week.

He added quickly that he was, at the time, "interested in the communications area," and in pursuit of that interest, became an advertising salesman in the radio and television industry over the next 25 years.

Continuing the pattern of interconnecting his lifetime experiences, Butler will use his communication talents following his retirement by becoming a partner in Butler Public Relations, a Manhattan-based firm headed by his son, Thomas.

During his career as an advertising salesman, Butler met and married the former Mary Kerr on Sept. 9th, 1961. Besides Thomas, the Butler’s have two other children, Kathleen, a social worker, and Denis, an attorney.

Butler was born and raised in Astoria, one of five sons of Denis and Annie Butler. He attended St. Joseph’s Parochial School, LaSalle Academy in Manhattan and then Cathedral College before enrolling in the seminary in 1947.

During most of his adult life, Butler had an interest in politics as a member of the Powhatan Regular Democratic Club, which he joined in 1956. He held several official positions in the organization during ensuing years, and in 1970 challenged the longtime incumbent district leader, Arthur F.S. Hendrickson.

His co-candidates were Mary Ann Kelly for co-leader, and Anne Favicchio for state committee. All three won and Butler’s political career moved into a new, more significant phase. Co-leader Kelly has remained his political partner since then, helping to guide the party’s political fortunes in the Long Island City area.

About six years later, Butler got his first chance to run for public office. He recalled, "John Moore, then the state senator from our area, died suddenly, and Tony Gazzara, then the 36th AD assembly representative, decided he wanted to succeed Moore, leaving a vacancy for the Assembly seat."

Butler was elected an Assemblymember for the first time on Apr. 27th, 1976, defeating his Republican opponent, John Ramondino. He took his seat in Albany two days later.

But in September, as might have been expected, he was challenged in the Democratic primary by a former Assemblymember, Jules Sabatino, a colorful character known for his oratorical skills in the legislature.

"Jules had been an Assemblymember for 12 years," Butler explained, "but following a reapportionment, he lost to John Lopresto, a Republican. But his comeback attempt against me failed, I won the primary and later the general election, defeating Ramondino again."

Thus in less than seven months, Butler was tested in three elections, won all three, and established himself for the next 24 years. He was rarely challenged seriously after that, except in 1996 and 1998 when he survived serious primary challenges from Kimon Thermos, an Astoria attorney. Thermos is again seeking the Democratic nomination for Butler’s 36th AD seat. He is opposed by Michael Gianaris, also an attorney, who was designated by the Queens regular Democratic organization as its candidate to succeed Butler. Thermos and Gianaris will lock horns in the September primary.

As an Assemblymember, Butler has emphasized equal importance for his law-making duties in Albany and his district responsibilities in his Astoria/Long Island City/Jackson Heights enclave.

"As a full time assemblyman," he states, "I have worked closely with community advocates on a host of issues, from improving educational and health programs to strengthening police protection and other vitally important services."

In this phase of his work he was one of the original founders of the 114th Precinct Auxiliary Police Corps. He is also a past president of the St. Joseph Home School Association and also served as a parish council member.

In Albany, Butler has proven to be an ardent advocate for the elderly, the disabled, veterans, small business, workers and the unborn.

Relative to the last mentioned subject, Butler in 1988 received the Brooklyn Roman Catholic Diocese "ProVita" award from Bishop Francis Mugavero in recognition of his efforts on behalf of the unborn and in support of life.

In 1992, the late Cardinal John O’Connor and the Bishops of New York State presented him with the New York State Catholic Conference Public Policy award.

Summarizing his 24-year career in the Assembly, Butler states:

"I supported legislation to increase the minimum wage, unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation. As chairman of the Assembly subcommittee on the Special Problems of the Aging and as a senior member of the Aging Committee, I held numerous statewide hearings aimed at determining and addressing the unmet needs of our senior citizens."

For seniors, Butler helped to create the Senior Citizens Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) and a similar program of real estate tax exemptions for certain seniors based on income. He was also a prime sponsor of the EPIC discount prescription drug program for low income seniors.

Butler’s positions as dean of the Queens Assembly Democratic delegation and Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore played a key role in his Assembly achievments. This was especially true in securing budget funds which he and his colleagues used at their own discretion to fund local programs.

"I can say proudly that I secured hundreds of thousands of dollars for numerous recreational, cultural, educational, civic, youth, anti-crime and senior programs throughout my years of service," Butler stated.

Butler also said that he believed that during his time as a legislator," I have made a significant contribution to my community."

But all this will soon be behind him.

"I look forward," he said with his usual easy smile, "to spending more time with my wife, Mary, and my family, and to working with my son, Thomas."

It’s a well-deserved end to a long, successful career as a lawmaker and we wish him a long, happy life.