Edward A. Diana
Encyclopedia
Edward A. Diana is an American
Physical Education educator, now serving as the County Executive
of Orange County
, New York
. Prior to being elected County Executive, he served for twelve years as County Legislator. He resides in Goshen, New York
. He is currently considering a run for US Senate against Kirsten Gillibrand.
and attended the local schools. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Southern Connecticut State University
and a Masters of Education from Ithaca College
.
Diana was employed for 30 years as an educator and athletic instructor in the Minisink Valley School District
. He was first elected in 1979 to the Wallkill
Town Board and served their as a councilman and deputy supervisor until 1985. He was elected as a county legislator for the 18th district (parts of Middletown, Wallkill and Goshen) from 1986 to 1993 and 1998 to 2001. Diana held the position of majority leader for six years. Diana also owned and operated the downtown Middletown restaurant "Diana’s" which was started by grandparents in 1936.
Diana was elected in 2001 by a wide margin to become the fifth County Executive of Orange County, replacing Joseph Rampe of Warwick
who was retiring. He was reelected in a landslide in 2005.
for a run against freshman incumbent John Hall in New York's 19th congressional district
. Representing the second largest county in the district, Diana would have strong name recognition in the area which gave Hall his narrow victory in 2006. In January 2008, Diana officially ruled out a run against Hall, stating he would prefer to seek a third term as County Executive.
For the 2010 election season, Diana has expressed interest in pursuing the post of Lieutenant Governor of New York
on Rick Lazio
's ticket. He has also expressed interest in running in the United States Senate special election in New York, 2010
against incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand
.
Goshen — Where is Orange County Executive Ed Diana?
Three days into one of the worst natural disasters the county has ever seen, even some county legislators were in the dark about the executive's whereabouts
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Physical Education educator, now serving as the County Executive
County executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
of Orange County
Orange County, New York
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Prior to being elected County Executive, he served for twelve years as County Legislator. He resides in Goshen, New York
Goshen (town), New York
Goshen is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 12,913 at the 2000 census.The Town of Goshen contains a village also called Goshen, the county seat of Orange County. The town is centrally located in the county....
. He is currently considering a run for US Senate against Kirsten Gillibrand.
Political career and background
Diana was born in Middletown, New YorkMiddletown, Orange County, New York
Middletown is a city in Orange County, New York, United States. It lies in New York's Hudson Valley region, near the Wallkill River and the foothills of the Shawangunk Mountains. Middletown is situated between Port Jervis and Newburgh, New York. The city's population was 25,388 at the 2000 census...
and attended the local schools. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University is one of four state universities in Connecticut, and is located in the West Rock neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut...
and a Masters of Education from Ithaca College
Ithaca College
Ithaca College is a private college located on the South Hill of Ithaca, New York. The school was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a conservatory of music. The college has a strong liberal arts core, but also offers several pre-professional programs and some graduate programs. The college is...
.
Diana was employed for 30 years as an educator and athletic instructor in the Minisink Valley School District
Minisink Valley Central School District
The Minisink Valley Central School District is a unified school district in Orange County, New York. The district consists of five schools; an elementary, intermediate, middle, and high school, which are all located in the township of Wawayanda, New York and the Otisville Elementary school, located...
. He was first elected in 1979 to the Wallkill
Wallkill, Orange County, New York
Wallkill is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 24,659 at the 2000 census.The Town of Wallkill is centrally located in the county. Interstate 84 crosses New York State Route 17 in the southern part of the town. U.S...
Town Board and served their as a councilman and deputy supervisor until 1985. He was elected as a county legislator for the 18th district (parts of Middletown, Wallkill and Goshen) from 1986 to 1993 and 1998 to 2001. Diana held the position of majority leader for six years. Diana also owned and operated the downtown Middletown restaurant "Diana’s" which was started by grandparents in 1936.
Diana was elected in 2001 by a wide margin to become the fifth County Executive of Orange County, replacing Joseph Rampe of Warwick
Warwick, New York
Warwick is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 30,764 at the 2000 census. The 2007 census population estimate is 32,669.The Town of Warwick is located in the southwest part of the county...
who was retiring. He was reelected in a landslide in 2005.
Higher office aspirations
There has been speculation that Diana is being recruited by the National Republican Congressional CommitteeNational Republican Congressional Committee
The National Republican Congressional Committee is the Republican Hill committee which works to elect Republicans to the United States House of Representatives....
for a run against freshman incumbent John Hall in New York's 19th congressional district
New York's 19th congressional district
United States House of Representatives, New York District 19 is located in the southern part of the state of New York. District 19 lies north of New York City and is composed of parts of Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, and Westchester Counties, in addition to the entirety of Putnam County.District 19...
. Representing the second largest county in the district, Diana would have strong name recognition in the area which gave Hall his narrow victory in 2006. In January 2008, Diana officially ruled out a run against Hall, stating he would prefer to seek a third term as County Executive.
For the 2010 election season, Diana has expressed interest in pursuing the post of Lieutenant Governor of New York
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
on Rick Lazio
Rick Lazio
Enrico Anthony "Rick" Lazio is a former U.S. Representative from the state of New York. Lazio became well known nationally when he ran against Hillary Rodham Clinton for the U.S. Senate in New York's 2000 Senate election...
's ticket. He has also expressed interest in running in the United States Senate special election in New York, 2010
United States Senate special election in New York, 2010
The 2010 United States Senate special election in New York took place on November 2, 2010, concurrently with other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections...
against incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand
Kirsten Gillibrand
Kirsten Elizabeth Rutnik Gillibrand is an attorney and the junior United States Senator from the state of New York and a member of the Democratic Party...
.
Goshen — Where is Orange County Executive Ed Diana?
Three days into one of the worst natural disasters the county has ever seen, even some county legislators were in the dark about the executive's whereabouts