Michael Cohen (politician)

This article is about the politician and former NYC Transit worker. For the former lawyer for Donald Trump and The Trump Organization, see Michael Cohen (lawyer). For the founder of Cohen Healthcare Law Group and former Harvard medical professor, see Michael H. Cohen.
Michael Cohen
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 28th district
In office
January 6, 1999 – March 14, 2005
Preceded byMelinda Katz
Succeeded byAndrew D. Hevesi
Personal details
Born (1949-07-19) July 19, 1949 (age 75)
Queens, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Queens, New York, U.S.
ProfessionPolitician

Michael L. "Mike" Cohen (born July 19, 1949) was a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly, representing the 28th Assembly District in Queens County, New York.

A former New York City Transit worker, Cohen was involved in with the transit unions and was elected to the local community board. In 1999 he began his first term in the State Assembly.[1] He resigned from the Assembly effective March 14, 2005.[2] The seat was filled in a special election won by Andrew Hevesi, the son of former New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi.[3][4]

In April 2009, then New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo charged New York Liberal Party leader Raymond Harding with accepting more than $800,000 in exchange for political favors for Alan Hevesi. Harding was also accused of helping arrange a $150,000-a-year position for Cohen with the Health Insurance Plan of New York (HIP), in order to clear the Assembly seat for a run by Hevesi's son. Neither Cohen nor Hevesi were charged with any wrongdoing.[5][6][7][8]

Cohen ran for New York City Council in 2009, seeking to represent City Council District 29 which includes the Queens neighborhoods of Forest Hills, Rego Park, and Kew Gardens.[9] He lost the September 2009 Democratic primary election to Karen Koslowitz, who went on to win the November 2009 general election.[10]

  1. ^ Perez-Pena, Richard (February 21, 1999). "The Nation: Making Law vs. Making Money; Lawyers Abandon Legislatures for Greener Pastures". The New York Times. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  2. ^ Rafferty, Brian M. (March 11, 2005). "Cohen Out, Hevesi May Be In". Queens Tribune. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  3. ^ Hicks, Jonathan P. (May 11, 2005). "State Comptroller's Son Wins Race To Replace Queens Assemblyman". The New York Times. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  4. ^ Hutchinson, Bill (May 11, 2005). "Hevesi's Son Wins Qns. Assembly Seat". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  5. ^ Hakim, Danny (April 15, 2009). "Ex-Leader of New York Liberal Party Charged". The New York Times. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  6. ^ Paybarah, Azi (April 15, 2009). "Cuomo: Hevesi's Office Used the State Pension Fund to Get Hevesi's Son Elected". New York Observer. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  7. ^ Rafferty, Brian M. (April 16, 2009). "Comptroller Scandal: Crony Was Paid For Cohen's Seat: AG". Queens Tribune. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  8. ^ Paybarah, Azi (April 20, 2009). "Official Whose Seat Andrew Hevesi Took Says He Just Wanted to Be 'Closer to Home'". New York Observer. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  9. ^ "Michael Cohen, City Council District #29". NBC New York. August 26, 2009. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference City Council primary was invoked but never defined (see the help page).