Politics & Government

Trailblazing Black Politician Mervyn Dymally Dies At 86

Congresswoman Barbara Lee laments his passing.

 

Mervyn M. Dymally, who blazed a trail for black elected leaders in the 1960's and 1970's, has died at age 86, through natural causes.

An immigrant from Trinidad, Dymally had many firsts to his credit, said Congresswoman Barbara Lee in a statement released today, including most notably being California's "first and only black lieutenant governor in 1974."

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In 1980 he was elected to the United States Congress.

According to a political obituary in the Los Angeles Times, "the controversies that surrounded him with some regularity over the years could never permanently derail his political career, as several corruption investigations all ended without charges ever being filed."

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What do you recall of Dymally's political career?

 

 

 


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