Charles Bernhard Garfinkel (December 25, 1890 – September 9, 1969) was a Ukrainian-American salesman, insurance agent and politician from New York.
Life He was born on December 25, 1890, in Derazhnia, Russian Empire, the youngest of eight children of a lawyer who died a year after Charles's birth. His mother emigrated with the children to the United States in 1897. He became a salesman of print paper and an insurance agent, and lived in the Bronx.New York Red Book (1918; pg. 150)
Garfinkel was a member of the Socialist Party of America. In November 1917, he was elected to the New York State Assembly (Bronx Co., 5th D.), defeating the incumbent Democrat William S. Evans. Garfinkel was one of ten Socialist members of the 141st New York State Legislature in 1918. He introduced one of the earliest rent control bills, but it did not pass the committee stage.The Great Rent Wars: New York, 1917-1929 by Robert M. Fogelson (Yale University Press, 2013; pg. 132; ) The Citizens Union said that Garfinkel was "very attentive and made an excellent record of votes on city bills".UNION SAYS VETOES SAVED THIS CITY in The New York Times on June 17, 1918 In November 1918, he ran for re-election, but was defeated by his Democratic predecessor Evans who had been endorsed by the Republicans.
In 1934, he ran for Congress in the 22nd District, but was defeated by the incumbent Democrat Anthony J. Griffin.
In December 1935, after the expulsion of the Old Guard faction, Garfinkel was elected by the New York City Central Committee of the Socialist Party as Temporary Chairman.Socialists Reject NY Old Guard at Marxisthistory.org
In November 1936, he ran for the New York State Senate (23rd D.)SENATE LIST ISSUED BY CITIZENS UNION in The New York Times on October 18, 1936 (subscription required) but was defeated by the incumbent Democrat John J. Dunnigan.
He died in September 9, 1969."GARFINKEL, CHARLES" at Social Security Info
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