Dede Scozzafava

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Dede Scozzafava
File:Scozzafava.jpg
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 122nd district
In office
1999–2011
Preceded byChloe O'Neil
Succeeded byKen Blankenbush
Personal details
Born
Dierdre Kathryn Scozzafava

(1960-04-28) April 28, 1960 (age 64)
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican (before 2009)
Democratic (2009–present)
SpouseRon McDougall
Residence(s)Gouverneur, New York
Alma materBoston University (B.Sc),
Clarkson University (MBA)
ProfessionPolitician, investment adviser

Dierdre Kathryn "Dede" Scozzafava (/ˈdiːdi skoʊzəˈfɑːvə/ DEE-dee SKOH-zə-FAH-və;[1] born April 28, 1960) is an American politician in New York. She represented District 122 in the New York State Assembly from 1999 to 2010. Scozzafava held office as a member of the Republican Party, but later became a member of the Democratic Party. Scozzafava was the Republican nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York's 23rd congressional district in a 2009 special election. She faced opposition from some Republican and conservative figures who deemed her too liberal to receive their support. While Scozzafava held an early lead in the polls,[2] she later fell behind Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman and Democratic candidate Bill Owens and suspended her campaign shortly before the election; she then threw her support to Owens, the eventual winner. The election received significant national attention, and was alternately described as "a referendum on President Barack Obama" and "a fight over the identity of the Republican Party."[3][4] The race was also noteworthy due to the Tea Party movement influence on its outcome.[5][6] A week after the 2009 election, Scozzafava was stripped of her Republican leadership position in the State Assembly. Scozzafava later announced that she would not seek re-election in 2010. In January 2011, Scozzafava was appointed as the New York Deputy Secretary of State for Local Government by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, a post she held until June 2016. She was later appointed as a Commissioner of the New York State Division of Tax Appeals Tribunal.

Early life, education, and personal life

Scozzafava was born in Buffalo, New York, and has resided most of her life in Gouverneur, New York, a small village located approximately halfway between Canton and Watertown. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Boston University School of Management, as well as an Master of Business Administration from the Clarkson University Graduate School of Management.[7] Scozzafava is married to Ron McDougall.[8]

Political career

Prior to her 1998 election to the State Assembly, Scozzafava served as a member of the Gouverneur Board of Trustees from 1989 to 1993 and was the Mayor of Gouverneur from 1993 to 1998.[7] Scozzafava considered running in a special election for the 48th state Senate district, which included most of the northwestern portion of her former Assembly district, in 2008. However, area Republicans chose Assemblyman William Barclay, in part because they thought Scozzafava would be seen as too socially liberal.[9] Barclay lost the election to Democratic Assemblyman Darrel Aubertine, and some Republican operatives said that Scozzafava should have been the Republican candidate.[9] In February 2008, Scozzafava was reportedly approached by Democrats about switching parties after she was passed over for the Republican nomination in the 48th Senate District special election.[9]

2009 congressional race

Main article: 2009 New York's 23rd congressional district special election

Scozzafava's husband, Ron McDougall, reportedly put out feelers to the Democrats about possible support for Scozzafava in a 2009 congressional race in New York's 23rd congressional district in the event that Democratic State Senator Darrel Aubertine opted not to seek the office; the seat was being vacated by John M. McHugh, who resigned upon Senate conformation as the new Secretary of the Army.[10][11][9] On July 22, 2009, Scozzafava was chosen by the 11 Republican Party county chairs located in the 23rd Congressional district to be the Republican nominee for the special election to fill the vacancy in that district.[10][11] Scozzafava's ties to Seaway Capital Partners (a firm which owed nearly $200,000 in back taxes and which was run by her brother) were questioned in connection with her 2009 run. She responded that she had had no direct ties to the company since 2007.[12] Scozzafava received endorsements from former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich,[13] Congressman Pete King (R-NY),[13] the National Rifle Association of America (NRA),[13] the Log Cabin Republicans,[13] and the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT).[14] A Siena College poll released on October 1, 2009, showed Scozzafava leading the race with 35% support, followed by Owens with 28%, and Hoffman with 16%.[15] However, a Siena poll released two weeks later indicated that Owens led Scozzafava by four percentage points and Hoffman by 10%.[16] After an October 31 poll showed Scozzafava trailing Hoffman by 15% and Owens by 16%, Scozzafava ended her campaign and released her supporters to "transfer their support as they [saw] fit."[17][18][19] The following day, Scozzafava endorsed Bill Owens, calling him "an independent voice who will put New York first."[20] This action put Scozzafava at odds with the Republican National Committee, which had backed Scozzafava prior to her withdrawal but had subsequently declared support for Hoffman.[17] An article in The Politico stated that the White House had made a concerted effort to persuade Scozzafava to endorse Owens, dispatching Long Island Congressman Steve Israel, New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to request her support. At the meeting, Scozzafava reportedly told Cuomo that he would be "the next governor of New York."[21] According to the Watertown Daily Times, New York's senior U.S. Senator, Democrat Chuck Schumer, was also among those who lobbied Scozzafava for an endorsement of Owens.[20] On Election Day, Bill Owens prevailed over Hoffman by a margin of 48.3% to 46%.[22]

Aftermath of 2009 congressional campaign

A week after the 2009 election, Scozzafava was stripped of her Republican leadership position in the New York State Assembly.[23] Some observers speculated that Scozzafava might become an independent caucusing with the Democratic super-majority in the state Assembly, or that she might leave the Republican Party altogether and become a Democrat. During Scozzafava's November 1, 2009 meeting with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Silver reportedly pledged that the Democrats would fully support Scozzafava should she decide to leave the GOP.[21] The Independence Party, the top minor party in the New York, also actively courted Scozzafava.[24] However, Scozzafava told WWNY-TV in Watertown on the day after the election that she intended to remain a Republican for the time being; she also acknowledged that she felt betrayed by the national GOP for its quick endorsement of Hoffman following her exit from the race.[25] Scozzafava eventually did switch parties and become a Democrat.[26] In April 2010, Scozzafava announced that she would not seek re-election to the New York State Assembly in November 2010.[27] Scozzafava endorsed Democrat Brian McGrath to fill her seat in New York's 122nd Assembly District,[28] and McGrath was defeated by Republican Ken Blankenbush.[29] In January 2011, Scozzafava was appointed as the New York Deputy Secretary of State for Local Government by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and held that position until June 2016.[30] In 2016, she was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the State Senate to serve as a Commissioner on the New York State Tax Appeals Tribunal.[31]

References

  1. ↑ Peters, Jeremy W. (October 26, 2009). "Right Battles G.O.P. in a Pivotal Race in New York". The New York Times. Retrieved October 27, 2009.
  2. ↑ Weiner, Mark (11 October 2009). "Upstate New York's 23rd Congressional District a battleground in national fight". syracuse.com.
  3. ↑ Hoffman concedes 23rd Congressional race to Owens Archived November 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Associated Press, November 4, 2009
  4. ↑ Peters, Jeremy W. (November 4, 2009). "Conservative Loses Upstate House Race in Blow to Right". The New York Times. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  5. ↑ "Green grass-roots at University of Nebraska". CNN. May 7, 2004. Archived from the original on October 11, 2010. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
  6. ↑ Jonsson, Patrik (October 31, 2009). "Tea Party Express jubilant as Scozzafava exits in NY-23". CSMonitor.com. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Bio page Archived 2006-08-16 at archive.today at Assembly site
  8. ↑ Vielkind, Jimmy (November 2, 2009). "Scozzafava Calls for Owens". Observer.com. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Benjamin, Elizabeth. Democrats Fan The Flames Of Scozzafava's Tax Troubles Archived 2009-07-26 at the Wayback Machine. New York Daily News. July 22, 2009.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Weiner, Mark (July 23, 2009). "GOP picks candidate for congressional seat, attacks likely Democratic hopeful". The Post-Standard. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "John McHugh assumes duties as 21st Secretary of the Army". September 21, 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
  12. ↑ Brown, Nathan (August 11, 2009). "Owens wins Dems support". Adirondack Daily Enterprise. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Heller, Marc (October 18, 2009). "Candidates play down some alliances". Watertown Daily Times. Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2009.
  14. ↑ Karlin, Rick (14 October 2009). "Republican gets NYSUT nod". Times Union. Archived from the original on June 6, 2019.
  15. ↑ Lotemplio, Joe (October 2009). "Latest poll shows Scozzafava in lead". Press-Republican.
  16. ↑ Weiner, Mark (15 October 2009). "Siena poll: Bill Owens surges past Dede Scozzafava in NY-23 congressional race". syracuse.com.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Nagourney, Adam; Peters, Jeremy W. (October 31, 2009). "G.O.P. Moderate, Pressed by Right, Abandons Race". The New York Times. Retrieved November 1, 2009.
  18. ↑ Seymour, Jude (October 31, 2009). "Scozzafava suspends campaign". Watertown Daily Times. Archived from the original on November 2, 2009. Retrieved October 31, 2009.
  19. ↑ Madore, James T. (2009-10-31). "Under pressure, GOP assemblywoman suspends campaign". Newsday. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Scozzafava backs Owens, stuns GOP". Watertown Daily Times. November 1, 2009. Archived from the original on November 3, 2009. Retrieved November 1, 2009.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Jonathan Marti; Charles Mathiesan (2009-11-01). "Winning Dede Scozzafava: How Democrats got her nod". The Politico.
  22. ↑ "Special election results certified". Watertown Daily Times. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  23. ↑ Horowitz, Jason (November 10, 2009), "'Scozzafava' turns into epithet", The Washington Post, retrieved November 11, 2009
  24. ↑ http://www.wten.com/Global/story.asp?S=11444522&nav=menu30_2[permanent dead link‍] NY Independence Party courts Scozzafava. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  25. ↑ Feedback: Scozzafava speaks out about lies and betrayals Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine. WWNY-TV, 2009-11-04.
  26. ↑ Taylor, Jessica (January 14, 2014). 2009 deja vu in NY-21? Maybe not. The Hill. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  27. ↑ Kleefeld, Eric (April 21, 2010). "Former NY-23 GOP Nominee Dede Scozzafava To Retire From New York State Legislature". Talking Points Memo. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
  28. ↑ "Dems praise Scozzafava at McGrath bash". Watertown Daily Times. September 13, 2010. Archived from the original on May 29, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
  29. ↑ "Blankenbush made funds pay off". Watertown Daily Times. Archived from the original on December 4, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
  30. ↑ Mcandrew, Mike (January 4, 2011). "Former Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, a Republican, gets job with Cuomo administration". syracuse.
  31. ↑ "Former Assemblywoman Scozzafava to speak Friday at Young Women's Leadership Institute event in Canton | NorthCountryNow". northcountrynow.com. 3 November 2016.

External links

New York State Assembly
Preceded by New York State Assembly, 112th District
1999–2002 		Succeeded by
Preceded by New York State Assembly, 122nd District
2003–2010 		Succeeded by
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