A reader forwarded this invite to an upcoming “light roast” to celebrate Assemblyman Richard “Dick” Gottfried’s 40th anniversary in public service.

roasting gottfried

The list of individuals that Gottfried, who represents the 75th AD (Midtown, Chelsea, Clinton, Murray Hill, part of Lincoln Center), has outlasted since he was first elected at the age of 23 in 1970, is pretty amazing.

The man has seen eight presidents come and go, eight US senators, seven governors, six mayors, six speakers, six Manhattan BPs, and (for those who keep tabs on this sort of thing) 15 managers of the Yankees.

Talk about longevity. (Former NYC Parks Commish Henry Stern, who infamously gave out nicknames to everyone, called the assemblyman “Eternal”).

I believe Gottfried is the longest-serving member of the Assembly at the moment, although he apparently (according to Scoopy) needs another five years under his belt to break the record.

The text at the bottom of the invite highlights some of Gottfried’s positions and accomplishments as one of the more left-leaning members of the Assembly. (He’s chair of the Health Committee, was the original sponsor of the gay marriage bill, supports campaign finance reform and an independent redistricting commission, which I’m sure will be music to the ears of former NYC Mayor Ed Koch).

An impressive array of Democratic electeds – past and present – and at least one Republican (former Gov. George Pataki, although he hasn’t yet confirmed), plan to fete Gottfried on May 20 and also mark the official start of his next re-election campaign.

Yes. He’s running yet again.

UPDATE: Gottfried wrote in to set me straight regarding his record-breaking tenure in the Assembly.

“I became the senior current Assembly member when Arthur Eve retired at the end of ’02. He and Passannante had both served 36 years. When I started my 39th year (start of ’09) I became the longest-serving Assembly Member ever. I have a decade to go before I equal former Sen. John Marchi’s 50 years, though.”

It does help to have been elected when you were 23 and looked like you were about 12 at the time.”

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