Michael McMahon
| Michael McMahon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 13th district | |
| In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Vito Fossella |
| Succeeded by | Michael Grimm |
| Member of the New York City Council, 49th District | |
| In office January 1, 2002 – December 31, 2008 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 12, 1957 New York City, New York |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Judith Novellino McMahon |
| Residence | Staten Island, New York |
| Alma mater | New York University, New York Law School |
| Profession | attorney |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Website | Congressman Michael McMahon |
Michael E. "Mike" McMahon (born September 12, 1957) is the former U.S. Representative for New York's 13th congressional district, serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He was previously a member of the New York City Council.
The district includes all of Staten Island, plus all or part of the Gravesend, Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst and Dyker Heights neighborhoods in Brooklyn. He was defeated for re-election in 2010.[1]
Early life, education and career
McMahon is a lifelong resident of Staten Island. He is of German and Irish heritage. He grew up in the Stapleton neighborhood on the North Shore and attended parochial schools. He graduated from New York University in 1979, later obtaining a law degree from New York Law School. He then worked for Democratic State Assembly members Eric Vitaliano and Elizabeth Connelly. He joined the staff of City Councilman Jerome X. O'Donovan, whom he succeeded in the Council. Prior to being elected to public office, McMahon worked as a partner at O'Leary, McMahon & Spero in Staten Island.[2]
New York City Council
McMahon served as the Chair of the New York City Council's Sanitation Committee focusing on minimizing the use of trucks to transport garbage and also more evenly distributing the load of waste processing across the five boroughs.
U.S. House of Representatives
Committee assignments
- Committee on Foreign Affairs
- Subcommittee on Europe
- Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade
- Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia
- Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Political positions
In November 2009, McMahon voted along with 38 other Democrats against the Affordable Health Care for America Act [3] and against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in March 2010.[4] He was the only member of the New York City Delegation to do so, and was only one of two New York Democrats, the other being Michael Arcuri, to vote against it.
Political campaigns
2008
On May 28, 2008, the Staten Island Democratic Committee endorsed McMahon to run for the Congressional seat in New York's 13th Congressional District being vacated by retiring 12-year incumbent Republican Vito Fossella.[5] On September 9, 2008 McMahon defeated opponent Steve Harrison in the Democratic Party primary with 75% of votes to Harrison's 25%. Earlier, on June 11, 2008, McMahon had been endorsed by the city's 12 Democratic congressmen.[6]
The 13th is considered to be the most conservative district of the 13 that divide New York City. It is based in Staten Island, which is the base of the city's Republican Party. However, the Republicans had considerable difficulty finding a replacement for Fossella on the ballot, eventually settling on former state assemblyman Robert Straniere. As a result, nearly all major pundits believed McMahon was almost certain to win the seat. Although Democrats have a 17-point edge in registration, the 13th is by far the most conservative district in the city. Voters are somewhat conservative on social issues and matters regarding "law and order", which kept Republicans in the seat for over a quarter century.
In the November election, McMahon won in a landslide, taking 61 percent of the vote to Straniere's 33 percent.[7] With his victory, New York City's congressional delegation became entirely Democratic for the first time in 76 years. This occurred despite the fact that John McCain narrowly carried Staten Island in the presidential election; a Democratic presidential candidate has carried Staten Island only three times since 1952.
2010
McMahon was challenged by Republican and Conservative Party nominee Michael Grimm, a former FBI Special Agent, and Libertarian nominee Tom Vendittelli. Grimm won the election, defeating McMahon.[1] He was one of a number of freshman Democrats who lost reelection in the GOP landslide of 2010.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Defeated Michael McMahon thanks supporters, says he 'respects' will of voters". Staten Island Advance. November 3, 2010.
- ↑ O'Leary & Spero Law Firm
- ↑ http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll887.xml
- ↑ "Voting History: Rep. Michael McMahon [D, NY-13] - U.S. Congress". OpenCongress. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
- ↑ the albany project:: NY-13: Staten Island Dems Nominate McMahon
- ↑ Katz, Celeste (June 11, 2008). "City Congressional Dems Unite Behind McMahon". Daily News (New York).
- ↑ Election Results 2008: New York The New York Times, December 9, 2008
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Michael McMahon. |
- Michael McMahon for U.S. Congress official campaign site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jerome X. O'Donovan |
New York City Council, 49th District 2002–2008 |
Succeeded by Kenneth Mitchell |
| United States House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by Vito Fossella |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 13th congressional district 2009 - 2011 |
Succeeded by Michael Grimm |