Badillo, first Puerto Rico-born congressman, dies

NEW YORK (AP) - The first person born in Puerto Rico to become a U.S. congressman has died. New York City politician Herman Badillo was 85.

The office of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. confirmed Badillo died Wednesday morning. George Arzt, a longtime friend, said he died at a Manhattan hospital from heart disease complications.

Badillo was born on Aug. 21, 1929, in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He served in the House of Representatives from 1971 to 1977, when he resigned to become a deputy New York City mayor during Edward Koch's first term.

Educated as a lawyer at Brooklyn Law School, Badillo was Bronx borough president from 1965 to 1969.

He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1968 and made repeated unsuccessful runs to become New York City mayor.

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