Michael Balboni

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Michael Balboni (born May 1959, Long Island, New York) is the New York's Deputy Secretary to the Governor for Public Security. He was appointed to that cabinet-rank position by Democratic Governor Eliot Spitzer but previously served in the State Assembly and State Senate as a Republican. In this position he is the state's chief homeland security official.

[edit] Personal life

Balboni lives in East Williston with his wife Stephanie and their children, Olivia, Nicholas, Julia and Michaela.

[edit] Political Life

As chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security, he spoke out for New York's need to receive additional Homeland Security funds. [1]

Because of his reputation for garnering support across party lines, it was rumored that he would seek the Republican nomination for Attorney General in 2006, but doing so would open his competitive, and probably Democrat-leaning, district to a challenge from the Democrats. He chose not to after pressure from Senate Republican Leader Joseph Bruno, mostly to aid the Republican Party in maintaining a slim majority in the State Senate. He was reelected in 2006.

On December 26, 2006, incoming New York Governor Eliot Spitzer announced that Balboni would be appointed Deputy Secretary for Public Security, requiring Balboni to resign his Senate seat and triggering a special election in early 2007 that could further challenge Republicans' control of the Senate. Balboni is a strong supporter of Maureen O'Connell (the front-runner in the special election) [2] O'Connell fell short in her bid in the Febraury 6, 2007 special election, however. As a result of his defection and the subsequent loss of his seat to the Democratic party, Balboni is now considered persona non grata by his former Republican colleagues in the New York State Senate. [3]