James Vacca

Jimmy Vacca
Member of the New York City Council from the 13th District
Assumed office
January 1, 2006
Preceded by Madeline Provenzano
Personal details
Born (1955-03-27) March 27, 1955
The Bronx, New York City
Political party Democratic
Children 1
Alma mater State University of New York (B.A)
Queens College (M.A.)
Website Official website

James 'Jimmy' Vacca (born August 23, 1955) is the Council member for the 13th District of the New York City Council. He is a Democrat.

The district includes Allerton, Baychester, Bronx Park, City Island, Co-op City, Country Club, Ferry Point Park, Hart Island, Morris Park, Pelham Bay, Pelham Bay Park, Pelham Islands, Schuylerville, Throggs Neck, part of Van Nest and Westchester Square in The Bronx.[1]

Life and career

Vacca was born in the Bronx in 1955 and raised in Pelham Bay. He attended New York City public schools, graduating from P.S. 71, J.H.S. 101, and Christopher Columbus High School. He holds a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York and a master's degree in Urban Studies from CUNY Queens College. Vacca is also an adjunct professor at CUNY Queens College, where he teaches courses in urban studies.

Prior to being elected to the City Council in 2005, Vacca served as District Manager of Bronx Community Board 10 for 26 years, and was appointed to the position in 1980, when he was only 25 years old, becoming one of the youngest District Managers in the city's history. He had previously served as Chairman of the Board. For numerous consecutive years under his leadership, Board 10 was ranked the cleanest and safest community board in the Bronx.[2]

Vacca came out as a gay man in 2016.[3]

New York City Council

In early 2005, with Councilwoman Madeline Provenzano term-limited out of office, Vacca announced his candidacy for the 13th Council District seat. Already an established public figure in the East Bronx due to his years as District Manager, he was endorsed by Congressman Joseph Crowley, State Senator Jeffrey Klein, and Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, as well as dozens of community and civic groups, and The New York Times.[4]

In the September 13, 2005, Democratic Party primary, he faced four opponents: former Assemblyman Stephen B. Kaufman, Joseph A. McManus, Ismael Betancourt, and Egidio Joseph Sementelli. He won with nearly 40% of the vote; Kaufman captured roughly 25%. In the general election, he defeated Philip F. Foglia, candidate of the Republican, Conservative and Independence Party lines, with 64% of the vote.

In 2009, Vacca ran for re-election under the Democratic and Republican lines, after being cross-endorsed by the Bronx Republican Party.[5] Facing a little-known challenger running on the Conservative Party line, Vacca was easily re-elected to a second term, winning 92.8% of the vote. He easily won election to a final term in 2013 with over 86% of the vote.

On Council, Vacca has been a strong advocate for responsible zoning laws and for prevention of overdevelopment. In 2007, Vacca was also named co-chair of the Council's Working Group on School Governance and Mayoral Control, established to guide the Council recommendations upon the expiration of mayoral control in 2009. After months of informal meetings with educators, union leaders, Administration officials, advocates, and parents, the Working Group issued its report in June 2009.

Vacca has also been influential in protecting funding for the Fire Department of New York.[6] He also has been a proponent of congestion pricing.[7]

Election history
Location Year Election Results
NYC Council
District 13		 2005 Democratic
Primary		 √ James Vacca 38.41%
Stephen Kaufman 25.70%
Joseph McManus 20.41%
Ismael Betancourt Jr. 10.15%
Egidio Sementilli 5.33%
NYC Council
District 13		 2005 General √ James Vacca (D) 64.39%
Philip F. Foglia (R) 35.61%
NYC Council
District 13		 2009 General √ James Vacca (D) 94.22%
Frank Dellavalle (Conservative) 5.78%
NYC Council
District 13		 2013 General √ James Vacca (D) 83.23%
William Britt (R) 16.70%

See also

References

  1. ↑ "NYCityMap". NYC.gov. Retrieved 2016-03-21.
  2. ↑ "James Vacca, the King of Clean". New York Times. 1994-08-07. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  3. ↑ "Flood of Support After Bronx Councilman James Vacca Reveals on Twitter He Is Gay". The New York Times. January 22, 2016.
  4. ↑ "City Council Endorsements". New York Times. 2005-08-28. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  5. ↑ Bronx Times-Reporter "Vacca captures major lines" October 28, 2009
  6. ↑ "City Island firehouse stays open despite budget's plan for shutdown". Daily News. 2009-07-01. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  7. ↑ "Bronx Councilman James Vacca Backs ‘Move NY’ Congestion Pricing Plan". Observer. 2015-03-16. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
Political offices
Preceded by
Madeline Provenzano		 New York City Council, 13th District
2006–present 		Incumbent
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