Mike Arcuri
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Michael Arcuri
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Sherwood Boehlert |
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| Born | June 11, 1959 Utica, New York |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Sabrina Deon-Arcuri |
| Children | Carmen Joseph Arcuri Dominique Arcuri |
| Residence | Utica, New York |
| Alma mater | SUNY at Albany, New York University |
| Occupation | attorney |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Michael Angelo "Mike" Arcuri (born June 11, 1959) is presently serving his second term in the United States House of Representatives. Arcuri represents New York's 24th congressional district. The district encompasses a large swath of central New York, including Utica, Auburn, Rome and most of the suburbs of Binghamton.
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[edit] Biography
Michael Arcuri graduated from Thomas R. Proctor High School, in Utica, New York in 1977.
In 1981, Arcuri graduated from the State University of New York at Albany where he majored in history and minored in economics. While at Albany, Mike worked for New York Public Interest Research Group.
In 1984, Arcuri graduated from New York Law School in New York City and was admitted to practice law in New York state in 1985, and returned to Utica to open a law office in 1986. In addition to private practice he served as attorney for the New Hartford Central School District’s Board of Education.
In 1993, Arcuri was elected District Attorney of Oneida County.
In 1997, he received the Mohawk Valley Person of the Year Award from the YWCA for his work in the area of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
In November 2006, Arcuri defeated State Senator Ray Meier for the 24th District congressional seat left open by the retiring Sherwood Boehlert. Arcuri won by 54 percent of the vote to Meier's 45 percent, becoming only the second Democrat to represent the area in 106 years.
In his bid for re-election in 2008, Arcuri faced a closer-than-expected challenge from businessman Richard Hanna. Ultimately, he won by just 51 percent of the vote to Hanna's 49 percent.
[edit] Issues and positions
Arcuri, a member of the moderate Blue Dog Coalition, has a voting record which is slightly more conservative than most House Democrats.[1] Arcuri supported the interests of Planned Parenthood 100 percent in 2008. Arcuri received an F grade from the National Taxpayers Union. Congressman Arcuri received a grade of 83 from the American Civil Liberties Union.
[edit] Controversy and Criticism
In 2002, Arcuri personally prosecuted Joseph A. Smith of Oneida for the murder of Desiree Case of Yorkville. Her body was discovered in an abandoned house on February 26, 2000. Smith was arrested on November 29, 2001 after he was charged with two counts of second-degree murder in a sealed indictment. Despite one mistrial, Arcuri chose to press on with the weak case, and a jury found Smith guilty of both counts of murder in March 2002. In late June 2002 a judge set aside the conviction, on a technicality, when it was discovered the defense was not provided all of the evidence in the case. Smith was released from jail on August 1, 2002. He later filed a claim for misconduct and negligence against the Oneida County District Attorney's Office and the City of Utica, N.Y., Police Department, which was settled out of court. However, Case's actual killer, Earl Wright, was located within the New Yorks State Prison System and would eventually plead guilty to manslaughter while an accomplice, Michael L. Nero, would plead guilty to assault.[citation needed]
Arcuri was embroiled in the Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal by virtue of being the only other "Client" of Kristian Stiles, a high-priced madam who was investigated by the F.B.I. and prosecutor, Boyd M. Johnson III, head of the corruption unit of the United States attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York. He was the only other politician to use Kristian Stiles as a "fundraising consultant", dropping her employment just days before the New York Times published an expose of the Spitzer investigation by the F.B.I. To date Arcuri has offered only a denial of wrongdoing, refusing to further submit to media inquiries about the matter, or to show detractors proof of her actual fundraising activity.(1)
In June 2008, The New York State Independence Party took issue with Arcuri using the word "Independent" prominently in campaign ads and literature despite not actually being nominated by the party, and having voted along Democratic party lines 92% of the time.(2)
In August 2008, it was revealed that Arcuri has contracts with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and the New York State Police, and had not disclosed this information during his years as the Oneida County District Attorney nor during his current service in Congress. Arcuri dismisses detractor's claims of a long-running conflict of interest, maintaining that his companies are his "...personal business and shouldn’t be an issue... None whatsoever." adding: “This is why people don’t run for office.”(3)
[edit] Committee assignments
[edit] Family and personal life
Arcuri has two children from his first marriage, Carmen and Dominique. He married his second wife, the former Sabrina Deon, in August 2007. His father was Carmen Arcuri (deceased). His mother, Elizabeth, retired as a stenographer.
[edit] References
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- ^ Voteview, 110th House Rank Orderings, http://www.voteview.com/hou110.htm.
[1] 2008 media report outlining Michael Arcuri's connection to Spitzer suspect Kristian Stiles at WKTV Utica, N.Y.
[2] 2008 media report outlining New York State Independence Party complaint at WKTV Utica, N.Y.
[3]"Arcuri firms earn revenue from state" Utica Observer-Dispatch print article - Oct 20, 2008.
[edit] External links
- U.S. Congressman Michael Arcuri, official U.S. House site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
- DCCC — Mike Arcuri profile
| United States House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by Sherwood Boehlert |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 24th congressional district 2007 – present |
Incumbent |
