Dean Skelos

Senator Dean G. Skelos
Majority Leader of the New York State Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Pedro Espada, Jr.
In office June 24, 2008 – December 31, 2008
Preceded by	Joseph Bruno
Succeeded by	Malcolm Smith
Minority Leader of the New York State Senate
In office January 7, 2009 – December 31, 2010
Preceded by	Malcolm Smith
Succeeded by	John L. Sampson
Acting Lieutenant Governor of New York
In office June 24, 2008 – December 31, 2008
Preceded by	Joseph Bruno
Succeeded by	Malcolm Smith
Deputy Majority Leader of the New York State Senate
In office January, 1995 – June 24, 2008
Leader	Joseph Bruno
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 (1948-02-16) (age 63) Rockville Centre, New York
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Gail Skelos
Residence	Rockville Centre, New York
Occupation	Attorney

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 addition to his service in the New York State Senate, he is also counsel to Ruskin Moscou Faltischek P.C.

See also

• 2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis

Notes

1. ^ New York Library Association: Sen. Dean Skelos (R-NY 9th District) biography
2. ^ ^{a b} http://www.nyssenate9.com/9/DistrictMap.aspx

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 - 1982	Succeeded by Armand Paul D'Amato
New York State Senate
Preceded by Carol Berman	New York State Senate, 9th District 1985–present	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Joseph L. Bruno	Temporary President of the New York State Senate 2008	Succeeded by Malcolm Smith
Preceded by Joseph L. Bruno Acting	Lieutenant Governor of New York Acting 2008	Succeeded by Malcolm Smith Acting
Preceded by Malcolm Smith	Minority Leader of the New York State Senate 2009	Succeeded by 2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis1
Preceded by 2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis1	Minority Leader of the New York State Senate 2009 - 2010	Succeeded by John L. Sampson
Preceded by Malcolm Smith	Temporary President of the New York State Senate 2011–present	Incumbent
Notes and references
1. Both Skelos and Smith claimed to be Majority Leader

Persondata
Name	Skelos, Dean
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	February 16, 1948
Place of birth	Rockville Centre, New York
Date of death
Place of death

Category:Greek Orthodox Christians