While in Congress, Stephen Solarz spoke out against the totalitarian government in Taiwan and supported opposition movements and outspoken critics.

Nearly two decades have passed since redistricting ended his Congressional career, but Taiwan remains a prime concern of his at Solarz Associates, the consulting firm in Washington, D.C., that he runs. He said he is currently helping Taiwan forge relationships in Washington—though the specifics of what kind of assistance, he would not reveal. He did, however, claim an active role in helping transform a dictatorship there into a democracy.

During his time in elected office representing Brooklyn in the Assembly for six years and in the House for 18, Solarz faced criticism while in Congress for being too focused on world affairs. But years later, he uses the relationships he formed to help American companies in business ventures overseas to lead a firm which develops investment and contract negotiation strategies for American companies seeking projects abroad. His client roster includes people from Kyrgyzstan, northern Iraq, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, Philippines, Australia and India, he said.

Also, as a founding board member of the International Crisis Group, a non-governmental organization involved in conflict resolution around the world, in April he accompanied former President Jimmy Carter to the Middle East to meet with the kings of Saudi Arabia and Jordan, the presidents of Egypt, Syria and Israel, as well as other leaders.

“I thought this would be a good opportunity to meet with some of the key leaders in the region in order to get a better sense of the prospects for peace,” he said.

He came away from the trip feeling that an agreement between Israel and Syria was a very real possibility, he said, and that optimism was strengthened when, just days after the trip ended, Israel and Syria commenced negotiations mediated by Turkey.



Solarz lives outside Washington, but spends 12 weeks every year with his wife, Nina, in their villa in Turkey overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. But if not for all the business he has to conduct in Washington, he insisted, he would move back to New York.

“I like the excitement in New York, the cultural life,” he said. 

He said he has warm memories of serving the constituents he represented in the Assembly and from his Congressional district, which was redrawn shortly before Nydia Velázquez (D-Brooklyn/Manhattan/Queens) defeated him in the 1992 primary.

Solarz said friends in New York keep him up to date on city politics. But though he has been following the emerging race to succeed Mayor Michael Bloomberg (Ind.) and is familiar with the expected major Democratic candidates, “nobody’s asked me for an endorsement,” he said.

The discussion of next year’s race brought up memories for him of what he misses most about the city’s political scene: winning elections.

“That was always nice,” he said.