Christopher J. Lee

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Christopher J. Lee
Political party Republican
Spouse Michelle Lee
Children 1
Residence Clarence, New York
Occupation Business Executive
Philanthropist
Website chrisleeforcongress.com
For other persons named Christopher Lee, see Christopher Lee (disambiguation).

Christopher J. Lee is an American business executive and politician from Clarence, New York.[1] He serves as director of the Patrick P. Lee Foundation, which promotes awareness, education, prevention and research of cancer and mental illness in Western New York.[2][3] He has declared himself a 2008 candidate to replace retiring Congressman Thomas M. Reynolds in New York's 26th congressional district.[4]

Contents

[edit] Business career and background

Lee was born and raised in Tonawanda, New York.[4] He earned a bachelors degree in economics and finance from the University of Rochester and a masters of business administration from Chapman University in California.[5] He worked for the Microtek Laboratory in California as Director of Sales, before returning to New York in 1995 to work for Enidine, Inc. in various roles such as Pacific Rim Sales Manager, Director of International Sales and Marketing and lastly General Manager.[6] Enidine had manufacturing capabilities in Orchard Park, New York, Bad Bellingen, Germany and Yokohoma, Japan, making products for commercial aviation, industrial and defense markets such as shock absorbers, rate controls, air springs, wire rope isolators, and elastomers.[7][8]

In 2003, Lee went on to become Automation Group President of International Motion Control (IMC) of Erie County, which was founded by his father.[9] The Automation Group companies initially included Enidine Industrial Products, Enidine Germany, Enidine Japan, Compact Automation Products, Midland Pneumatics and JPI Korea.[10] He oversaw the group's acquisition of the solenoid valve firm Evolutionary Concepts Inc., and worked until the sale of IMC to the ITT Corporation for nearly $400 million dollars.[11][12][13]

[edit] Political career

 This article contains information about one or more candidates in an upcoming or ongoing election.
Content may change as the election approaches.
Main article: New York's 26th congressional district election, 2008

In 2008, Lee announced he was a candidate for the United States House of Representatives in New York's 26th congressional district as a Republican.[14] He comes from a political family, as his sister ran regional affairs in western New York for former Governor George Pataki, and his father was the finance chairman on several campaigns for former Congressman Jack Quinn.[15] Lee's candidacy was endorsed by the incumbent representative Thomas M. Reynolds.[16][17][18] He has the support of all seven Republican county chairman in the district, who met in May of 2008 to announce Lee would hold the party's official endorsement.[19][20] As a wealthy businessman, his candidacy garnered the support of state GOP Chairman Stephen Minarik in an election year where the Republican party is looking for candidates who self-finance.[21][22]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "People on the Move". Business First of Buffalo. November 20, 2000.
  2. ^ Miles, Joyce. "Lee kicks off campaign for 26th District". Lockport Union-Sun & Journal. May 1, 2008.
  3. ^ "Board of Directors". Patrick P. Lee Foundation. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
  4. ^ a b "Biography". Chris Lee for Congress". Retrieved May 8, 2008.
  5. ^ Terreri, Jill. "GOP county leaders line up behind Lee for Congress". Democrat and Chronicle. May 1, 2008.
  6. ^ Fink, James. "Restructuring may to lead to IMC expansion". Business First of Buffalo. June 15, 2004.
  7. ^ "Global expertise, local solutions". Global Design News. September 1, 2002.
  8. ^ "Enidine ITT". Retrieved May 6, 2008.
  9. ^ "International Motion Control, Inc.". Business First of Buffalo. Retrieved May 6, 2008.
  10. ^ "Business People: Christopher J. Lee". The Buffalo News. August 11, 2002.
  11. ^ "Motion control company acquires solenoid valve firm". Hydraulics & Pneumatics. March 1, 2006.
  12. ^ Sechler, Bob. "ITT to Acquire Maker Of Motion-Control Gear". Wall Street Journal. June 27, 2007.
  13. ^ "ITT Corp to buy International Motion Control for 395 mil USD". Forbes. June 29, 2007.
  14. ^ McCarthy, Robert J. "Chris Lee officially announces for Congress on GOP line". Buffalo News. April 30, 2008.
  15. ^ Horrigan, Marie. "Endorsement Pits Money vs. Support in Western New York". Congressional Quarterly. April 30, 2008.
  16. ^ McCarthy, Robert J. "Reynolds endorses Lee, takes swipe at Collins". The Buffalo News. May 5, 2008.
  17. ^ "Reynolds endorses Lee’s congressional bid". Niagara Gazette. May 5, 2008.
  18. ^ "Rep. Tom Reynolds endorses Chris Lee for 26th District". WHEC. May 5, 2008.
  19. ^ McCarthy, Robert J. "Amid opposition, Lee emerges in GOP House race". The Buffalo News. April 29, 2008.
  20. ^ "GOP chairmen pick Lee for Reynolds' seat". Lockport Union-Sun & Journal. April 29, 2008.
  21. ^ Hernandez, Ramyond. "Short of Funds, G.O.P. Recruits the Rich to Run". New York Times. November 26, 2007.
  22. ^ McCarthy, Robert J. "Christopher Lee gains ground in congressional race; Kathleen Hochul decides not to run". The Buffalo News. April 15, 2008.

[edit] External links