Michael Balboni

Michael Balboni (born May 12, 1959) was the Deputy Secretary for Public Safety for the State of New York, who was the senior homeland security and law enforcement official in New York Governor David Paterson's administration. He was appointed to that cabinet-level position by former Democratic Governor Eliot Spitzer in January 2007.

Political career

Balboni previously served as a Republican representing the 17th Assembly District in the State Assembly for eight years until being elected to represent the 7th Senate District in the State Senate in 1997. As chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs, 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. That would have opened his competitive, strongly probably Democrat-leaning, district to a threat from the Democrats. He chose not to run after pressure from Senate Republican Leader Joseph Bruno, to help the Republican Party retain its slim majority in the State Senate. Balboni was reelected in 2006, winning 56% of the votes.

On December 26, 2006, New York State Governor-elect Spitzer announced that Balboni would be appointed Deputy Secretary for Public Safety, requiring Balboni to resign his Senate seat. The move triggered a special election on February 6, 2007. For political reasons, Balboni, now working with the democrats, refused to endorse former friend and colleague Nassau County Clerk Maureen O'Connell (R-East Williston, NY) against Nassau County Legislator Craig M. Johnson (D-Port Washington)and Johnson won.^[2]

In his role as head of the NYS Office of Public Safety, Balboni oversaw homeland security and criminal justice agencies for Spitzer. These include the State Police, Department of Corrections, Division of Criminal Justice Services, the Division of Parole, and Office of Homeland Security. He coordinated homeland security and law enforcement policy, and served as state liaison to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. On October 30, 2007, Balboni spoke out on CNN in favor of Governor Spitzer's proposal to allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.

In January, 2009, Balboni announced he would be leaving the Paterson administration to work in the private sector as a partner with Navigators Global, a government relations and communications consulting firm.^[3]

In August 2010, Balboni left his position at Navigators Global to join Cardinal Point Strategies as a Principle and Senior Vice President in their Government Solutions Group^[4][5]

Personal life

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

References

External links

• NYS Office of Homeland Security
• Homeland Security Policy Institute