Howard Rich

Biography

In 1970 Howard Rich purchased his first multiple-dwelling in Manhattan. By 1986 he had accumulated seventeen buildings and did building-wide renovations in all of them. In 1986 he sold the entire portfolio with the exception of two parcels one of which was sold in 1987. In 1989 he exchanged the remaining parcel for a Houston property.

When New York City properties had declined in value after the 1987 stock market debacle, he started buying Manhattan properties again in 1990. His last purchase in Manhattan was in 1999. A few years later he began exchanging Manhattan properties for garden developments in five states.

Most of these properties are now owned by family entities which also have interests in office buildings. He resides in Manhattan with his wife, Andrea, the president of Center for Independent Thought. They have two grown sons.

Howard Rich serves as Chairman of Americans for Limited Government. He has been a leading force in the limited government movement since 1992, when he founded the group U.S. Term Limits. Fifteen states now have term limits on their legislatures and the term limits movement is one of the largest grassroots movements in American history. Rich serves on the boards of various nonprofit organizations, including The Cato Institute, The Club for Growth and the Foundation for Educational Choice. He currently heads Club for Growth State Action which establishes and supports the state affiliates of the national organization.

In 2000, he founded Legislative Education Action Drive (LEAD) which focuses on enacting school choice legislation across the country. He also serves as Chairman of the Parents in Charge Foundation. Rich is a strong supporter of school choice and has been honored with the Herman W. Lay Memorial Award for his work in education.

Rich is a contributing writer to the web site Townhall.com.

Rich's political activity has focused on financing ballot initiatives in numerous states and monitoring left-wing activists' political activities.. Ballot issues include restrictions on regulatory taking and eminent domain, term limits for judges and legislators, and state spending limits modeled after Colorado's Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

Rich holds (or has held) leadership positions with the following organizations: Americans for Limited Government, the Cato Institute, SocialSecurityChoice.org, and U.S. Term Limits.

Causes

Howard Rich has long been politically active. He was member of the Libertarian party, until he became an independent in during his youth. his political activities today focus on:

- Term Limits

- Government Reform

- School choice

Howie Rich also maintains an active blog, and is a weekly contributor to Townhall.com