Paul R. Screvane

Paul R. Screvane (August 11, 1914 – November 4, 2001) was an American politician. He served as the president of the New York City Council from 1962 to 1966. He also ran as a Democratic candidate in the 1965 New York City mayoral election.^[1]

Early life

Paul Rogers Screvane was born on August 11, 1914 in Woodcliffe, New Jersey. Three weeks after his birth, his family moved back into their Bronx home, which he grew up in. He played football at James Monroe High School at the halfback position. Due to his skill, he earned an athletic scholarship to Mississippi State College. However, his mother became ill and he left college after one year.

Career

Screvane's service to New York City started when he turned 22, when he took a job as a garbage truck driver. His uncle, a former employee of the department, encouraged him to pursue the position. Screvane rose quickly within the sanitation department. In 1957, Mayor Robert Wagner appointed him as the commissioner of the sanitation department at just 42 years old.

Wagner convinced Screvane to run for Council President in 1961. On September 7, 1961, he defeated State Senator Thomas J. Mackell in the Democratic primary for the position.^[2] In the general election, he defeated Paul A. Fino, a United States congressman.^[3] During the summer of 1962, he served as interim mayor when Mayor Wagner was on vacation with his family.

In 1965, Screvane ran for the office of Mayor. During the Democratic primary, he came in second to Abe Beame, who eventually lost the election to John Lindsay.^[4]

Later life and death

After leaving public office, he entered the private sector. In a brief stint from 1974 to 1978, he served as the head of the New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation. He retired from business in 1994.

He died on November 4, 2001 from congestive heart failure at his home in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania.

Personal life

Ten months before the Pearl Harbor attack, Screvane joined the military. By the end of World War II, he had earned the rank of Colonel.

He was married to Birdie McKessy Screvane. She died in 1989. Together, they had four children.

References