Earlene Hill Hooper

Earlene Hooper
Deputy Speaker of the New York State Assembly
In office
Jan 1, 2009 – Dec 31, 2018
Preceded byIvan Lafayette
Succeeded byCatherine Nolan
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 18th district
In office
March 16, 1988 – December 31, 2018
Preceded byBarbara Patton
Succeeded byTaylor Raynor
Personal details
Born1938 or 1939 (age 85–86)[1][dubious – discuss][2]
Baltimore, Maryland[3]
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseThomas[3]
ResidenceHempstead, New York[3]
Alma materNorfolk State University
Adelphi University
Professionsocial worker, politician
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website

Earlene Hill Hooper is an American politician who represented District 18 in the New York State Assembly from 1988 to 2018. Hooper's district included large portions of Nassau County. Hooper served as the first female Deputy Speaker of the Assembly from 2009 to 2018.[4] First elected in a special election held on March 15, 1988, Hooper was (at one time) the only New York state legislator of color from Long Island.[4][5]

A former social worker, with a B.A. in English from Norfolk State University and a Master's in Social Work from Adelphi University, she previously served as an administrator in New York State's Department of Social Services Division of Child and Family Services.[4]

Hooper also served on the Democratic Platform Committee during 1988.[citation needed]

On September 13, 2018, Hooper was defeated in the Democratic primary by psychologist and political newcomer Taylor Raynor, who was described as "a loose jezebel that has two kids and no husband" in fliers spread within the assembly district.[6][7] Hooper was criticized during her campaign for comparing Raynor to a slave and comparing Nassau County Democratic Committee chairman Jay Jacobs to a plantation owner.[7][8]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Newsday was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Long Island pol invokes 'plantation' politics in racially-charged rant". 30 July 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Vote Smart was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Official bio was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Kimberly Jean-Pierre - Assembly District 11 |Assembly Member Directory | New York State Assembly".
  6. ^ "Raynor declared victor in 18th Assembly District Democratic primary".
  7. ^ a b "Assembly candidate says anonymous mailers are 'dirty politics'".
  8. ^ "Raynor beats Assemb. Hooper in 18th district".