Dean Skelos
Dean G. Skelos (b. February 16, 1948) is a formerRepublican member of theNew York State Senate, representingDistrict 9 from 1984 to December 11, 2015. He was removed from office after he was convicted of eight counts of corruption.[1] His conviction was overturned on September 26, 2017.Read more here.
Skelos served asSenate majority leader from January 2015 to his resignation from the position on May 11, 2015. He was forced from his leadership position one week after he was arrested on federal corruption charges.John Flanagan (R) was chosen byRepublicans to become the newSenate majority leader.[2]
Skelos served in the New York State Assembly from 1981 to 1983. From 1995 to 2008, he was deputy majority leader for Legislative Operations. He briefly served as temporary president/majority leader in the Senate in 2009. He previously served asminority leader in the 2009-2010 session.
Biography
Skelos earned his B.A. in history from Washington College in 1970 and his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in 1975. His professional experience includes working as counsel for Ruskin Moscou Faltischek Professional Corporation.[3]
Committee assignments
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Skelos served on the following committees:
| New York committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| •Rules, Chair |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Skelos served on the following committees:
| New York committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| •Rules, Chair |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Skelos served on the following committees:
| New York committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| •Rules, Chair |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Skelos served on the following committees:
| New York committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| •Aging |
| •Rules |
Issues
Tax extensions
Promoting his 2013-14 budget, GovernorAndrew Cuomo and his 2014 re-election campaign launched television ads in late January, 2013.[4] E.J. McMahon of the pro-market Empire State Center for New York Policy argued that Cuomo's claim in the ads that his budget did not impose any new taxes was technically true but disingenuous because the governor did call for extending two taxes with automatic expirations first imposed in 2009. Cuomo proposed extending the two percent assessment on electric, water and gas utility bills for five years beyond its scheduled March 13, 2014, expiration date. Senate Majority LeaderSkelos and his fellow Senate Republicans opposed the utility tax extension and held a February 5 press conference on the topic with representatives from the Business Council of New York State, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY), the New York Farm Bureau and AARP.[5] Cuomo also proposed extending a tax on households earning more than $10 million annually. Already statutorily limited to receiving only half of their tax deductions for their charitable giving, high-end taxpayers would see the temporary law limiting them to receiving only a quarter of their charitable giving deductions extended for three more years. The utility assessment tax had brought in $509 million annually, and the charitable giving deduction limit had brought in $140 million.[6]
Marijuana Legislation
In June 2012, Skelos was an opposition leader against a proposal by Gov.Andrew Cuomo (D) that would have decriminalized the display of small amounts of marijuana. While possessing small amounts of marijuana had been legal in the state, showing it to a police officer was not. Ultimately, the measure was defeated.[7]
Sponsored legislation
Elections
2014
Elections for theNew York State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on September 9, 2014. The general election took placeNovember 4, 2014. Thesignature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was July 10, 2014.Patrick Gillespie Jr. was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while incumbentDean Skelos was unopposed in the Republican primary. Gillespie ran on theWorking Families Party ticket and Skelos ran on theConservative Party,Independence Party of New York State and Tax Revolt Party tickets. Skelos defeated Gillespie in the general election.[8][9][10]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Dean SkelosIncumbent | 63% | 50,142 | |
| Democratic | Patrick Gillespie, Jr. | 32.7% | 26,026 | |
| None | Blank | 4.1% | 3,253 | |
| None | Void | 0.1% | 92 | |
| None | Scattering | 0% | 29 | |
| Total Votes | 79,542 | |||
2012
Skelos ran in the2012 election forNew York State Senate District 9. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary on September 13, 2012. He also ran on theConservative Party andIndependence Party of New York State tickets. Skelos defeatedThomas H. Feffer (D) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[11][12][13]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dean SkelosIncumbent | 60.7% | 68,816 | |
| Democratic | Thomas H. Feffer | 39.3% | 44,646 | |
| Total Votes | 113,462 | |||
2010
On November 2, 2010, Skelos won re-election toNew York State Senate, District 9, defeatingGeorge Sava (D) in the general election.[14][15] Skelos ran as a member of the Republican, Conservative and Independence party.
| New York State Senate, District 9, General Election, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Dean SkelosIncumbent | 65.8% | 59,252 | |
| Democratic | George Sava | 34.2% | 30,804 | |
| Total Votes | 90,056 | |||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Skelos won re-election toNew York State Senate, District 9. He defeated Roy D. Simon (D) in the general election. Skelos also ran on theIndependence Party andConservative Party tickets.[16][17]
| New York State Senate, District 9, General Election, 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Dean SkelosIncumbent | 64.7% | 82,410 | |
| Democratic | Roy D. Simon | 35.3% | 45,038 | |
| Total Votes | 127,448 | |||
2006
On November 7, 2006, Skelos won re-election toNew York State Senate, District 9, defeating Odelia Goldberg (D) in the general election. Skelos also ran on theIndependence Party andConservative Party tickets.[18]
| New York State Senate, District 9, General Election, 2006 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Dean SkelosIncumbent | 63.5% | 53,545 | |
| Democratic | Odelia Goldberg | 36.5% | 30,772 | |
| Total Votes | 84,317 | |||
2004
On November 2, 2004, Skelos won re-election toNew York State Senate, District 9, defeating Joshua S. Ketover (D) in the general election. Skelos also ran on theIndependence Party ticket.[19]
| New York State Senate, District 9, General Election, 2004 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Dean SkelosIncumbent | 64.7% | 83,193 | |
| Democratic | Joshua S. Ketover | 35.3% | 45,313 | |
| Total Votes | 128,506 | |||
2002
On November 5, 2002, Skelos won re-election toNew York State Senate, District 9, defeating Richard H. Glassberg (D), Peg McHale (RTL) and Roseann Zeoli (L) in the general election. Skelos also ran on theIndependence Party andConservative Party tickets.[20]
| New York State Senate, District 9, General Election, 2002 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Dean SkelosIncumbent | 67.8% | 56,947 | |
| Democratic | Richard H. Glassberg | 29.7% | 24,958 | |
| Right to Life | Peg McHale | 2.1% | 1,782 | |
| Libertarian | Roseann Zeoli | 0.4% | 362 | |
| Total Votes | 84,049 | |||
2000
On November 7, 2000, Skelos won re-election toNew York State Senate, District 9, defeating Edward J. Oppenheimer (D), Kiera McGuire (RTL) and Gerald M. Bressner (L) in the general election. Skelos also ran on theIndependence Party andConservative Party tickets.[21]
| New York State Senate, District 9, General Election, 2000 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Dean SkelosIncumbent | 59.6% | 73,357 | |
| Democratic | Edward J. Oppenheimer | 38.2% | 46,941 | |
| Right to Life | Kiera McGuire | 1.7% | 2,080 | |
| Libertarian | Gerald M. Bressner | 0.5% | 612 | |
| Total Votes | 122,990 | |||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf.Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at theFEC website. Clickhere for more on federal campaign finance law andhere for more on state campaign finance law.
| Year | Office | Status | Contributions | Expenditures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | New York State Senate, District 9 | Won | $1,513,262 | N/A** |
| 2012 | New York State Senate, District 9 | Won | $1,603,710 | N/A** |
| 2010 | New York State Senate, District 9 | Won | $1,162,941 | N/A** |
| 2008 | New York State Senate, District 9 | Won | $1,524,227 | N/A** |
| 2006 | New York State Senate, District 9 | Won | $1,190,373 | N/A** |
| 2004 | New York State Senate, District 9 | Won | $1,196,015 | N/A** |
| 2002 | New York State Senate, District 9 | Won | $909,584 | N/A** |
| 2000 | New York State Senate, District 9 | Won | $507,116 | N/A** |
| 1998 | New York State Senate, District 9 | Won | $246,485 | N/A** |
| ** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle | ||||
| Note: Totals above reflect only available data. | ||||
Scorecards
Ascorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
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Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of New York scorecards, email suggestions toeditor@ballotpedia.org.
2020
In 2020, theNew York State Legislature was in session from January 8 to December 31.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2019
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In 2019, theNew York State Legislature was in session from January 9 through January 8, 2020.
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2018
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In 2018, the 202ndNew York State Legislature, second annual session, was in session from January 3 through June 20.
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2017
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In 2017, the 202ndNew York State Legislature, first annual session, was in session from January 4 through December 31. A recess began June 21, and there was a special session June 28-29.
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2016
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In 2016, the 201stNew York State Legislature, second annual session, was in session from January 6 through June 18.
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2015
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In 2015, the 201stNew York State Legislature, first annual session, was in session from January 7 through June 25.
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2014
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In 2014, the 200thNew York State Legislature, second annual session, was in session from January 8 to June 19, 2014.
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2013
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In 2013, the 200thNew York State Legislature, first annual session, was in session from January 9 to December 31.
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2012
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In 2012, the 199thNew York State Legislature, second annual session, was in session from January 4 to June 22, 2012.
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2011
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In 2011, the 199thNew York State Legislature, first annual session, was in session from January 5 to June 20, 2011.
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Personal
Note: Pleasecontact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Skelos and his wife, Gail, have one child.[3]
Noteworthy events
Federal investigation and conviction
On May 4, 2015, Sen. Skelos and his son, Adam Skelos, were arrested and charged with corruption byU.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.[22] Thesix-count criminal complaint charged the senator and his son with three counts of extortion, two counts of soliciting bribes and one count of conspiracy.[23] The complaint accused Senator Skelos of using his position in the state Senate to benefit AbTech, an environmental technology company, and the real estate developer Glenwood Management.[22] While neither company was named in the complaint, Senator Skelos agreed to help both companies in exchange for payment.[22] According to the complaint, AbTech made payments to Adam Skelos over the course of several years. While Sen. Skelos was using his political influence to help AbTech Industries win a $12 million storm-water treatment contract in his home district, Adam Skelos allegedly told a witness that if his compensation was not increased, they would block the contract.[22] AbTech was awarded the contract in 2013, and Adam Skelos' monthly compensation was reportedly raised from $4,000 to $10,000.[22] In total, Adam Skelos was allegedly paid almost $220,000 to influence his father's actions.[22] The investigation relied heavily on witnesses from the real estate company and from AbTech, as well as wiretaps of Adam Skelos.[23] After Sen. Skelos was charged, he made the following statement:
| “ | I am innocent of the charges leveled against me. I am not saying I am just not guilty, I am saying that I am innocent. I fully expect to be exonerated by a public jury trial.[24] | ” |
| —Sen. Dean Skelos[22] | ||
Outside of his job with the State Senate, Skelos had served as "of counsel" at the law firm of Ruskin Moscou Faltischek P.C. since 1994.[25] After his arrest, the law firm announced that Skelos was taking a leave of absence from the firm.[26] According to state records, Skelos had earned between $150,000 and $250,000 per year from the law firm, but public court records showed that he never appeared as an attorney for a client in state or federal court.[25] The news of Skelos' arrest came less than three months after former Assembly SpeakerSheldon Silver (D) was arrested on federal corruption charges.[27]
On May 28, 2015, Sen. Skelos and his son, Adam, were indicted by a federal grand jury on six counts of bribery, extortion, wire fraud and conspiracy.[28] The indictment was largely the same as the six-count criminal complaint that charged the senator and his son on May 4, but with one additional accusation. According to a report in theNew York Times, the indictment also accused the senator of securing over $100,000 in payments and health benefits from an unnamed medical malpractice insurer.[28] The insurer agreed to provide the senator's son with a no-show job, in exchange for being able to lobby the senator on legislative affairs.[28]
On June 1, 2015, Sen. Skelos and his son pleaded not guilty to federal corruption charges. A hearing was scheduled for July 30, 2015, to discuss a date for the trial.[29]
On July 21, 2015, federal prosecutors released an expanded indictment that added two new charges of soliciting bribes from a Long Island company in return for favorable legislation.[30] The expanded indictment charged Sen. Skelos and his son with eight counts of bribery, extortion, and conspiracy in total.[30] Federal prosecutors alleged that Sen. Skelos used his position in the state Senate to put pressure on an unnamed medical-malpractice insurance company into giving his son a no-show job with benefits worth more than $100,000.[30] According to the indictment, a week after Adam Skelos began his job at the unnamed medical-malpractice insurance company, his supervisor confronted him about why he rarely came into work.[31] Angry about the meeting, court documents showed that "Adam Skelos called back Supervisor-1 and threatened to 'smash in' Supervisor-1's head and told Supervisor-1 that Supervisor-1 would 'never amount to anything' and that 'guys like' Supervisor-1 'couldn’t shine [Adam Skelos’s] shoes.'"[31]
On July 30, 2015, U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood scheduled the trial for November 16, 2015.[32]
On December 11, 2015, Skelos and his son were convicted of all eight counts of bribery, extortion, and corruption. Dean Skelos was convicted of using his position in the Senate to benefit three companies—a real estate developer, an environmental technology company and a medical malpractice insurer—in exchange for the companies' agreement to give work to his son. Prosecutors said that the three businesses provided Adam Skelos with about $300,000 and other benefits.[1][33][34]
On May 12, 2016, U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood sentenced former Sen. Skelos to five years in prison.
Conviction overturned
On September 26, 2017, a federal appeals court overturned Skelos' 2015 conviction and granted him a new trial. The court found that the jurors in the case were wrongly instructed and were not consistent with a 2016Supreme Court decision.[35] The 2016 ruling narrowed the definition of what it takes to convict public officials of wrongdoing.[36]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Dean + Skelos + New York + Senate"
See also
- New York State Senate
- Senate Committees
- New York State Legislature
- New York state legislative districts
External links
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Dean Skelos on Facebook
- Dean Skelos on Twitter
- Campaign contributions viaOpenSecrets
Footnotes
- ↑1.01.1NY Times, "Dean Skelos, Ex-New York Senate Leader, and His Son Are Convicted of Corruption," accessed December 11, 2015
- ↑NY Times, "Dean Skelos, New York Senate Leader, Vacates Post," accessed May 11, 2015
- ↑3.03.1New York State Senate, "Biography of Sen. Dean Skelos," accessed April 16, 2015
- ↑The Buffalo News, "Cuomo taking to TV to sell his budget plan," January 23, 2013
- ↑New York State Senate, "Senate Republicans call on Governor Cuomo to remove utility tax surcharge extension from executive budget," February 5, 2013
- ↑Empire State Center for New York Policy, "“No new taxes”? Not so fast," January 31, 2013
- ↑New York Times, "Divide in Albany Kills Proposal on Marijuana," June 19, 2012
- ↑New York Board of Elections, "Certification for the September 9, 2014, State Primary Election," accessed December 17, 2014
- ↑New York Board of Elections, "Primary results for September 9, 2014," accessed October 1, 2014
- ↑New York Board of Elections, "NYS Board of Elections Senate Election Returns November 4, 2014," accessed December 17, 2014
- ↑State of New York, State Board of Elections, "Candidate List for the September 13, 2012, State Primary Election," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑State of New York, State Board of Elections, "Official September 13, 2012, Primary Results," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑State of New York, State Board of Elections, "Official Senate Election Returns Nov. 6, 2012," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑New York State Board of Elections, "NYS Board of Elections Senate Election Returns November 2, 2010," accessed February 11, 2014
- ↑New York State Board of Elections, "Official Primary results from September 14, 2010," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑New York State Board of Elections, "Official Primary results from September 9, 2008," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑New York State Board of Elections, "Official Senate Election Returns November 4, 2008," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑New York State Board of Elections, "NYS Board of Elections - Senate Vote - Nov. 7, 2006," accessed April 24, 2015
- ↑New York State Board of Elections, "NYS Board of Elections - Senate Vote - Nov. 2, 2004," accessed April 24, 2015
- ↑New York State Board of Elections, "NYS Board of Elections - Senate Vote - Nov. 5, 2002," accessed April 24, 2015
- ↑New York State Board of Elections, "NYS Board of Elections - Senate - Nov. 7, 2000," accessed April 24, 2015
- ↑22.022.122.222.322.422.522.6NY Times, "Dean Skelos, New York Senate Leader, and Son Are Arrested on Corruption Charges," accessed May 4, 2015
- ↑23.023.1Newsday, "Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and son Adam Skelos face federal corruption charges, feds say," accessed May 4, 2015
- ↑Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑25.025.1Wall Street Journal, "N.Y. State Senate Leader Dean Skelos Under Investigation," accessed April 16, 2015
- ↑NY Times, "Dean Skelos, Albany Senate Leader, Takes Leave of Absence From Law Firm," accessed May 8, 2015
- ↑nbcnewyork.com, "NY Senate Leader Dean Skelos, Son Focus of Federal Corruption Probe: Report," accessed April 16, 2015
- ↑28.028.128.2New York Times, "Grand Jury Indicts Dean Skelos, Ex-New York Senate Leader, and Son in Corruption Case," accessed May 29, 2015
- ↑Reuters, "Ex-NY Senate leader Skelos, son plead not guilty in corruption case," accessed June 1, 2015
- ↑30.030.130.2Wall Street Journal, "Sen. Dean Skelos, Son Face New Charges in Extortion Case," July 21, 2015
- ↑31.031.1observer.com, "New Charges for Dean Skelos and Son Allege No-Show Malpractice Jobs," July 21, 2015
- ↑Reuters, "Former N.Y. state legislative leaders to face corruption trials in November," accessed July 31, 2015
- ↑newsday.com, "Dean Skelos, son get postponement in sentencing on corruption conviction," accessed March 2, 2016
- ↑NY Daily News, "Dean Skelos guilty in corruption case; former state Senate Majority Leader and son now face up to 130 years in prison," accessed December 11, 2015
- ↑Washington Post, "lEx-NY Senate leader Skelos gets new trial in corruption case," September 26, 2017
- ↑Bloomberg, "Ex-New York Senate Leader Dean Skelos Gets New Trial," September 26, 2017
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by ' | New York State Senate District 9 1985–December 11, 2015 | Succeeded by Todd Kaminsky (D) |
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