James Oddo

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James S. Oddo (born 1966) is a Republican politician from Staten Island, currently serving as Minority Leader in the New York City Council. He is one of two Republicans serving on the Council.

Born in Staten Island as the youngest of four sons in a family of city employees, James Oddo earned a B.A. from Fordham University and a J.D. from New York Law School.

He started in politics by working as Chief of Staff to then-councilman John Fusco for seven years and as Legal Counsel to the former Council Minority Leader Thomas Ognibene. He was first elected in February 1999 in order to fill the seat vacated by John Fusco, and has always been reelected since. After the resignation of Ognibene, he was elected Minority Leader of the City Council with the consent of the three other Republicans on the Council in 2002.

His district, the 50th, is located mainly in Staten Island, and encompasses the neighborhoods of Arrochar, Bulls Head, Concord, Dongan Hills, Emerson Hill, Fort Wadsworth, Grant City, Graniteville, Grasmere, Island of Meadows, Midland Beach, New Dorp, Old Town, Prall's Island, Richmondtown, South Beach, Todt Hill, Travis, Westerleigh, Willowbrook; but also parts of Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights and Bath Beach in Brooklyn.

Contents 1 Norwegian Comedy Show Incident 2 Support of Congressman Fossella 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Norwegian Comedy Show Incident

James Oddo received attention^[1] when a video of the councilman appeared on YouTube about October 5, 2007 ^[2]. In the video clip, Oddo is shown being interviewed by a film crew from the Norwegian comedy show Rikets røst (loosely translated as "Voice of the Nation"). The comedians had gained entry to councilman Oddo's office by posing as TV journalists who wanted to get the view of a Republican on the upcoming U.S. presidential election. Instead, the interviewer, Pia Haraldsen played the role of an uninformed foreigner.^[3] She asked how Barack Obama could run for president, as he is not a U.S. citizen (she said she read somewhere he was "African-American") and asked if Senator Clinton could be president "after that embarrassing incident with a cigar?" On the aired clip, Haraldsen is shown smiling as Oddo starts swearing and threatening the film crew, as well as his secretary. The film crew keeps recording the incident with a hidden camera, as Oddo, in a profanity-laced tirade, furiously tells them to get out of his office.

[edit] Support of Congressman Fossella

Oddo supported scandal-plagued Congressman Vito Fossella stating that he "knows what [Fossella's] core is about" and he has to be held "accountable." ([2])

[edit] References

1. ^ James Oddo Takes No (Expletive), New York Press, Tuesday, October 9, 2007
2. ^ YouTube - James Oddo interview - "Get the f*** out of my office"
3. ^ She admitted to Fox News[1] "I'm playing the role of a stupid, ignorant, blonde reporter."

[edit] External links

• Official NYC Council Website about James Oddo
• Longer version of Norwegian show Rikets røst including more of James Oddo interview
• Exploding New York City Councilman Refuses To Get 'Punked' (Fox News, 2007)

Preceded by John Fusco

New York City Council, 50th District 1999 – present

Incumbent