Dean Skelos
| Dean Skelos | |
|---|---|
| President pro tempore of the New York Senate | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Malcolm Smith |
| In office June 24, 2008 – December 31, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph Bruno |
| Succeeded by | Malcolm Smith |
| Majority Leader of the New York Senate | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | John Sampson |
| In office June 8, 2009 – July 9, 2009* | |
| Preceded by | Malcolm Smith |
| Succeeded by | Pedro Espada |
| In office June 24, 2008 – December 31, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph Bruno |
| Succeeded by | Malcolm Smith |
| Lieutenant Governor of New York Acting | |
| In office June 24, 2008 – December 31, 2008 | |
| Governor | David Paterson |
| Preceded by | Joseph Bruno |
| Succeeded by | Malcolm Smith |
| Member of the New York Senate from the 9th district | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 1985 | |
| Preceded by | Carol Berman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 16, 1948 Rockville Centre, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Gail Skelos |
| Alma mater | Washington College Fordham University |
| *Both Skelos and Malcolm Smith claimed Majority Leader during the 2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis | |
Dean G. Skelos (born February 16, 1948[1]) is an American politician and the Republican Temporary President and Majority Leader of the New York State Senate. Skelos represents District 9 in the State Senate, which comprises the southwest region of Nassau County.[2] He is the second Long Islander to hold the position of Majority Leader, following Ralph J. Marino.
Early life
Skelos graduated from Washington College with a B.A. in History in 1970, and earned a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in 1975.
Early political career
New York State Assembly
Dean Skelos first won elective office on November 4, 1980. Skelos, running on the Republican, Conservative and Right-to-Life party lines defeated Democratic and Liberal party candidate Peter S. Kilcommons, Jr. by a 64% to 36% margin (30,749 to 17,371), to win election in the vacant 19th Assembly District representing Nassau County. The New York State Assembly seat became vacant when incumbent Assemblyman Raymond J. McGrath decided to run for an open seat in the United States House of Representatives due to the retirement of nine-term incumbent John W. Wydler.
New York State Senate
1982
After one term in the Assembly, Skelos gave up his seat to challenge incumbent Democratic-Liberal New York State Senator Carol Berman. The 1982 reapportionment changed the boundaries of the 9th Senate District, which previously included parts of Nassau and Queens County. The new district, drawn by Senate Republicans, was now entirely within Nassau County and favored Republicans. Skelos was endorsed by the Republican and Conservative parties. Berman, running on the Democratic and Liberal party lines won the race by 6,108 votes (55,504 to 49,396). Matthew Doyle, the Right-to-Life party candidate, received 2,520 votes in the three-way race.
The 9th Senate District today includes the city of Long Beach, the villages of Rockville Centre, Atlantic Beach, Cedarhurst, East Rockaway, Hewlett Bay Park, Hewlett Harbor, Hewlett Neck, Island Park, Lawrence, Lynbrook, Malverne, Valley Stream, and Woodsburgh, and the hamlets of Baldwin, Barnum Island, Elmont, Franklin Square, Hewlett, Inwood, North Valley Stream, Oceanside, West Hempstead, and Woodmere.[2]
1984
In 1984, Skelos challenged Berman in a rematch. This time, Skelos, who had President Ronald Reagan visit the district and campaign for him, defeated Berman in a two-way race. Skelos won 50.7% to 49.3% (67,834 to 65,875).
1986
In 1986, Carol Berman challenged Skelos in their third consecutive state senate contest. Skelos, running on the Republican and Conservative party lines defeated the Democratic-Liberal candidate Berman in a three-way race, winning 53% of the vote (49,761) to 43.7% (41,005). Right-to-Life party candidate, Joan McDermott received 3.2% (2,967) of the vote.
In the Senate
He also served as the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee before stepping down from that post after ten years. While serving as chairman Skelos was credited with authoring the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage Program (EPIC), which assists senior citizens in defraying the cost of prescription drugs.
Senator Skelos was also instrumental in the passage of the Sex Offender Registration Act, also known as Megan's Law, which mandated that convicted sex offenders register with local law enforcement authorities and that local communities be apprised of the presence of all known sex offenders.
As Co-Chairman of the Joint Committee on Breast Cancer and Pesticides, Senator Skelos helped to draft the Health Research Science Law, which established a Pesticide Registry within New York State.
Intimately involved in events in Long Island, he is also credited with creating the Nassau Interim Finance Authority.
Since 1989, Senator Skelos has been Co-Chairman of the Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Apportionment, a position that requires he and his colleagues to redraw the boundaries of Assembly, Senate, and congressional districts within New York State.
In 1993, Senator Skelos was appointed as Chairman of the Task Force on Economic Recovery and Job Development.
He was Deputy Majority Leader of the New York State Senate from 1995 to 2008, and Majority Leader in 2008 after the resignation of Joseph Bruno.
In 1998, he was appointed by Governor George Pataki to sit on the four-member Metropolitan Transportation Authority Capital Program Review Board.
Senator Skelos has been a member of the board of directors of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation since 1998, as well as a member of the National Conference of State Legislators and National Conference of Insurance Legislators.
In 2011, Skelos voted against the Marriage Equality Act, which the Senate passed 33-29.[3] In a statement he said, "this is a very difficult issue and it will be a vote of conscience for every member of the Senate."[4]
In 2013, as Senate Leader, Skelos was responsible for suspending Senate rules and bringing the NY SAFE Act to the floor. He later voted for the SAFE Act and advocated its passage.;[5][6]
In addition to his service in the New York State Senate, he is also counsel to Ruskin Moscou Faltischek P.C.
External links
- New York State Senate: Dean G. Skelos official website
- Official Campaign Website
- Senator Skelos on Facebook
- Dean Skelos could be the guy to save local GOP. Newsday.com.
- NY State Sen. Skelos wants to set standard for drug-testing students by Heather Fletcher. Long Island Business News. 2005-05-06.
| New York Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Raymond J. McGrath |
New York State Assembly 19th district 1981–1983 |
Succeeded by Armand D'Amato |
| New York State Senate | ||
| Preceded by Carol Berman |
New York State Senate 9th district 1985–present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by Joseph Bruno |
Temporary President of the New York State Senate 2008 |
Succeeded by Malcolm Smith |
| Preceded by Malcolm Smith |
Temporary President of the New York State Senate 2011–present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Joseph Bruno Acting |
Lieutenant Governor of New York Acting 2008 |
Succeeded by Malcolm Smith Acting |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||
- ↑ New York Library Association: Sen. Dean Skelos (R-NY 9th District) biography
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.nyssenate9.com/9/DistrictMap.aspx
- ↑ roll call
- ↑ Skelos' Statement
- ↑ "Rally held in Rockville Centre to protest Sen. Dean Skelos' recent vote for the NY SAFE Act". February 16, 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
- ↑ "Skelos On Gun Control: ‘Perhaps We Did Act In Haste’". Capital Tonight. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2013.