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Dean G. Skelos
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Member of the New York Senate
from the 9th district |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January, 1985 |
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| Preceded by | Carol Berman |
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Majority Leader of the New York State Senate
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office June 24, 2008 |
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| Preceded by | Joseph Bruno |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office June 24, 2008 |
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| Preceded by | Joseph Bruno |
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| Born | February 16, 1948 Rockville Centre, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Gail Skelos |
| Residence | Rockville Centre, New York |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Religion | Greek Orthodox |
| Website | senatordeanskelos.org |
Dean G. Skelos is an American politician, the New York State Senate's Republican Majority Leader, and President Pro Tem of the Senate. In addition to his role as New York State's Senate Majority Leader, he also is serving as acting Lieutenant Governor of New York. Skelos represents District 9 in the State Senate, which comprises Elmont, Rockville Centre, Malverne, East Rockaway, Lynbrook and Lawrence, and other towns in southwest Nassau County. He is the second Long Islander to hold the position of Majority Leader, following Ralph J. Marino.
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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.
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.
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).
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.
Senator Skelos previously served as Deputy Majority Leader of the New York State Senate from 1995 to 2008. 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.
In 1993, Senator Skelos was appointed as Chairman of the Task Force on Economic Recovery and Job Development.
In 1998, he was appointed by then-Governor George Pataki to sit on the four-member Metropolitan Transportation Authority Capital Program Review Board.
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.
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.
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.
In addition to his service in the New York State Senate, he is also counsel to Ruskin Moscou Faltischek P.C.
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Raymond J. McGrath |
New York State Assembly, 19th District 1981–1982 |
Succeeded by Armand D'Amato |
| Preceded by Carol Berman |
New York State Senate, 9th District 1985 – present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by Joseph Bruno |
Majority Leader of the New York State Senate 2008 – present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by Joseph Bruno |
Lieutenant Governor of New York acting 2008 – present |
Incumbent |
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