John DeFrancisco
John DeFrancisco | |
---|---|
Deputy Majority Leader of the Tarky Lombardi, Jr. | |
Succeeded by | Nancy Larraine Hoffmann |
Personal details | |
Born | Syracuse, New York, U.S. | October 16, 1946
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Linda DeFrancisco |
Children | 3 |
Education | Syracuse University (BS) Duke University (JD) |
Website | Senate website |
John A. DeFrancisco (born October 16, 1946) is an attorney and
Early life, education, and military service
John DeFrancisco graduated from Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, New York.[1][2] DeFrancisco received his Bachelor's Degree from Syracuse University,[3][4] where he played college baseball,[5] and later graduated from Duke University Law School.[3] He is a veteran of the United States Air Force,[6] where he served as a Judge Advocate.[3]
Political career
First elected to the Senate in 1992, DeFrancisco previously spent eleven years on the Syracuse Common Council as both a Councilor-at-large and then the Council President. He has also served in the past as the President of the Syracuse City School District Board of Education and the Vice-President of the Conference of Large City Boards of Education. He was also of counsel at the law firm of DeFrancisco and Falgiatano;
The Albany Times Union has described DeFrancisco as "an outspoken lawmaker and attorney known for his skills in floor debates.[9] In 2010, after Republicans had lost their majority status in the Senate, DeFrancisco was "appointed chief interrogator for the Senate Republican Conference with carte blanche to grill Democrats and spotlight their flaws."[10] A former Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee[11] and the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. DeFrancisco "authored the legislation that led to the implementation of the Amber Alert system"[12] and secured state funding for a "cord blood bank [in Syracuse] that will transform medical waste into life-saving treatments."[13] DeFrancisco opposes public financing of political campaigns, and has voted against medical marijuana legislation, the DREAM Act, and the gun control law known as the NY SAFE Act.[14] DeFrancisco also voted against allowing same-sex marriage in New York during Senate roll-call for the 2011 Marriage Equality Act, which the Senate narrowly passed 33-29.[15]
In 2015, following the resignation of Dean Skelos as Senate Majority Leader, DeFrancisco sought to succeed him in that post; however, Senate Republicans chose John J. Flanagan.[16] Sen. DeFrancisco was elevated to his current post as Senate Deputy Majority Leader in July 2015.[9]
In 2011, DeFrancisco supported legislation that would increase medical malpractice legal fees; at the time, he was still practicing law at a firm that specialized in medical malpractice. Common Cause/New York, a good government group, accused DeFrancisco of acting in his own self-interest.[15]
On January 30, 2018, DeFrancisco announced that he was running for the Republican nomination for
Personal life
DeFrancisco and his wife, Linda, have three children and eight grandchildren.[21] They reside in DeWitt, New York.[11] DeFrancisco plays the saxophone;[22] according to Russ Tarby of Syracuse New Times, he "blows a mean sax on Night Train."[23] He is a Roman Catholic.[5]
Notes
- ^ Doran, Elizabeth (2 June 2014). "CBA lands its biggest donation ever". Syracuse.com. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
- ^ "Eight To Be Honored As Distinguished Alumni On Nov. 4". Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
- ^ a b c Williams, Stephen (7 February 2018). "Local senators endorse John DeFrancisco for governor". DailyGazette.com. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
- ^ DeWitt, Karen (30 January 2018). "Third GOP Candidate Enters NY Gov. Race". WAMC.org. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
- ^ a b Weaver, Terri (11 May 2015). "Who is John DeFrancisco, the Upstate guy who may become NY Senate leader". Syracuse.com. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
- ^ Harding, Robert (27 December 2013). "DeFrancisco: Cuomo signs bills ending double sales tax vehicles for military servicemembers, revising Youth Works tax credit". AuburnPub.com. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
- ^ Velasquez, Josefa (3 January 2018). "Gov. Cuomo Unveils Litigious Agenda for New York State". Law.com. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- ^ "About John A. DeFrancisco | NY State Senate". www.nysenate.gov. Archived from the original on 2015-12-15.
- ^ a b Bragg, Chris (30 July 2015). "DeFrancisco named deputy majority leader". TimesUnion.com. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- ^ Goldberg, Delen (22 June 2010). "NY State Sen. John DeFrancisco becomes GOP's 'pit bull'". Syracuse.com. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
- ^ a b Precious, Tom (30 January 2018). "Syracuse-area GOP senator announces bid for governor". BuffaloNews.com. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
- ^ Santora, Sally (19 August 2017). "Livingston County Republican Committee celebrates 50 years". TheLCN.com. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- ^ Mulder, James (9 February 2017). "Long-awaited Syracuse cord blood bank turns waste into life-saving treatments". Syracuse.com. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- ^ Weaver, Teri (11 May 2015). "Who is John DeFrancisco, the Upstate guy who may become NY Senate leader". Syracuse.com. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
- ^ a b Lovett, Kenneth (21 March 2011). "Lawyer pol John DeFrancisco urges attorney malpractice fee boost". Daily News. New York, New York: NY Daily News. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ Campbell, Jon (11 May 2015). "Skelos out, Flanagan in as NY Senate leader". Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- ^ Roy, Yancey (31 January 2018). "Upstate senator jumps into governor's race: 'Enough is enough'". Newsday. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
- ^ Lovett, Kenneth (April 25, 2018). "Sen. John DeFrancisco suspends bid for N.Y. governor after announcing, 'I am not going to be actively campaigning'". New York Daily News. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
- ^ Gormley, Michael (June 19, 2018). "Ex-Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner to run for governor". Newsday. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ Harding, Robert (April 26, 2018). "Longtime state Sen. John DeFrancisco will not run for re-election". AuburnPub.com. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
- ^ Karlin, Rick (30 January 2018). "DeFrancisco announces gubernatorial run". Times Union. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
- ^ Vielkind, Jimmy (10 June 2015). "DeFrancisco's L.C.A. Show rebuttal". Politico.com. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
- ^ Tarby, Russ (21 December 2016). "Winter Blues Blowout". SyracuseNewTimes.com. Retrieved 16 February 2018.