UPTOWNflavor

Mayor Bloomberg today announced the elevation of the Rev. Joseph Parkes, president of Cristo Rey New York High School, to the position of chair of the city Campaign Finance Board to replace outgoing chairman Frederick A. O. Schwartz Jr.

Father Parkes is the third chairman in the Board’s 20-year history.  The Board’s immediate past
chairman, Frederick A.O. Schwarz, Jr., today reacted to the appointments.

“Joe Parkes is an outstanding choice to be the next chair of the Campaign Finance Board.
I believe Father Parkes has, in his year on the Board, shown the capacity to discharge the Board’s obligation to protect the public fisc while exercising the responsibility to treat all candidates fairly. He understands and appreciates the Board’s even-handed, independent, non-partisan culture. I am confident he will continue to seek ways to make the Campaign Finance Program even stronger. New York City will continue to be well served by the Board under Father Parkes’ leadership.”

Joseph P. Parkes, S.J., is the President of Cristo Rey New York High School in East Harlem. He also sits on the Boards of St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, St. Aloysius School in Central Harlem, and St. Ann’s School in East Harlem. He previously served as President of the Fordham Preparatory School. He also served in a variety of posts within the New York Province of the Society of Jesus before his appointment as Provincial in 1990. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from the Fordham University College of Philosophy & Letters, his Masters of Arts in Medieval History from the University of Wisconsin and his Masters of Divinity from Woodstock College.