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Andrew Cuomo

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Andrew Cuomo
56th Governor of New York
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 31, 2010
LieutenantRobert Duffy
Preceded byDavid Paterson
64th Attorney General of New York
In office
January 1, 2007 – December 31, 2010
GovernorEliot Spitzer
David Paterson
Preceded byEliot Spitzer
Succeeded byEric Schneiderman
11th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
In office
January 29, 1997 – January 20, 2001
PresidentBill Clinton
Preceded byHenry Cisneros
Succeeded byMel Martinez
Personal details
Born (1957-12-06) December 6, 1957 (age 66)
Queens, New York
Political partyDemocratic Party
SpouseKerry Kennedy (1990–2003)
ChildrenCara
Michaela
Mariah
ResidenceExecutive Mansion
Alma materFordham University
Albany Law School

Andrew Mark Cuomo (pronounced /ˈkwoʊmoʊ/; born December 6, 1957) is the 56th and current Governor of New York, having assumed office on December 31, 2010[1]. He was the 64th New York State Attorney General, and was the 11th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Born in Queens, New York, he is the son of Mario Cuomo, the 52nd Governor of New York (1983–1994).

Early life, education and career

Cuomo was born in Queens, New York, the elder son of Mario Cuomo, the first Italian American to be elected Governor of New York, and husband to Matilda Raffa, daughter of Charlie Raffa.[2] He is the older brother of ABC News journalist Chris Cuomo.[3]

Cuomo graduated from Archbishop Molloy High School in 1975. He graduated from Fordham University in 1979 and Albany Law School in 1982. A member of the Democratic Party, he was a top aide to his father during his 1982 campaign for Governor. He then joined the Governor's staff as one of his father's top policy advisors, earning $1 a year.[4]

From 1984 to 1985 he was a New York assistant district attorney. He briefly worked at the law firm of Blutrich, Falcone & Miller. He founded Housing Enterprise for the Less Privileged (HELP) in 1986 and left the law firm to run HELP full-time in 1988.[4][5] From 1990 to 1993, during the administration of former New York City Mayor David Dinkins, Cuomo served as Chairman of the New York City Homeless Commission, which was charged with developing policies to address the homeless issue in the city and to develop more housing options.

Political career

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Cuomo, as HUD Secretary holding a press conference with then Treasury Secretary Larry Summers

Andrew Cuomo was appointed to the Department of Housing and Urban Development as Assistant Secretary in 1993, as a member of President Bill Clinton's administration. After the departure of Secretary Henry Cisneros at the end of Clinton's first term under the cloud of an FBI investigation, Cuomo succeeded him as HUD Secretary in January 1997 after being unanimously confirmed by the Senate, serving until 2001 when Clinton's administration ended.

In 1998, Cuomo's lauded work in the department garnered speculation that he could challenge Senator Al D'Amato but he ultimately declined, saying that he had more things to revamp in the Department. Instead, Congressman Charles Schumer won the Democratic nomination and ultimately defeated D'Amato. Cuomo was also mentioned as a candidate for U.S. Senator in 2000 but deferred to First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.

In 2000, Cuomo led HUD efforts to negotiate an agreement with the United States' largest handgun manufacturer, Smith & Wesson that required Smith & Wesson to change the design, distribution and marketing of guns to make them safer and to help keep them out of the hands of children and criminals.[6] Budgets enacted during his term contained initiatives to increase the supply of affordable housing and homeownership, and to create jobs and economic development. These include: new rental assistance subsidies; reforms to integrate public housing; higher limits on mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration; a crackdown on housing discrimination; expanded programs to help homeless people get housing and jobs; and creation of new Empowerment Zones.

Cuomo as HUD Secretary

During Cuomo's tenure as HUD Secretary, he called for an increase in home ownership.[7] He also pushed government-sponsored lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy more home loans issued to poor homeowners, in an attempt to end discrimination against minorities.[5] Some believe that this helped lead to the current subprime mortgage crisis.[7][5][8] Edward J. Pinto, former chief credit officer at Fannie Mae, said "they should have known the risks were large. Cuomo was pushing mortgage bankers to make loans and basically saying you have to offer a loan to everybody."[7] But others disagree with the assessment that Cuomo caused the crisis. Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, said Cuomo "was a contributor in terms of him being a cheerleader, but I don't think we can pin too much blame on him."[7]

2002 New York gubernatorial campaign

Though Carl McCall was the favorite of the Democratic establishment, Cuomo initially had more momentum and led in fundraising and polls. A turning point in the campaign was on April 17, 2002, when Cuomo said "Pataki stood behind the leader. He held the leader's coat. He was a great assistant to the leader. But he was not a leader. Cream rises to the top, and Rudy Giuliani rose to the top." The remarks were widely derided, and even his father Mario later admitted it was a mistake.[9]

On the eve of the state convention, he withdrew from its consideration when he concluded that he had little chance of its support as opposed to the favored party candidate, State Comptroller H. Carl McCall.[10] Later, in September 2002, on the all-but-certain defeat that loomed in the state primary, again at the hands of McCall, Cuomo withdrew from the race, but his name remained on the ballot, as it did in the general election, as the Liberal Party of New York candidate. In the primary, the withdrawn candidate only received 14% of the vote. And then in the general election, he received 15,761 votes, out of 4.7 million cast,[11] handing a costly defeat to the Liberal Party, which thereby lost its automatic spot on the New York ballot. McCall, who ran a poor campaign and failed to resonate with voters, was defeated in a landslide by Governor George Pataki.

2006 New York Attorney General campaign

Main article: New York attorney general election, 2006

Some expected him to run for Governor of New York again, as a candidate for the Democratic nomination in 2006, but Cuomo decided against a run when New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer entered the race in late 2004. Cuomo declared his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for New York State Attorney General in 2006, and on May 30, 2006, captured the Democratic Party's endorsement, receiving 65 percent of the delegates' votes. Though Cuomo won the endorsement, former New York City Public Advocate Mark J. Green, Charlie King, a two-time candidate for lieutenant governor, and Sean Patrick Maloney, a former aide to President Clinton, also earned places on the Democratic primary election ballot.[12] King dropped out of the race before the primary and endorsed Cuomo.[13]

Cuomo won the primary with a majority of the vote, defeating his nearest opponent by over 20%. Clinching the Democratic party nomination was considered a significant rebound following his unsuccessful and unpopular 2002 gubernatorial campaign and at the nominating convention, June O'Neill, the Democratic chairwoman of St. Lawrence County, called Cuomo "New York's own Comeback Kid."[14] He won the general election against the Republican nominee, former Westchester DA Jeanine Pirro on November 7, 2006, winning 58%-40%. Cuomo won New York City in a landslide, and did quite well upstate, defeating Pirro in the Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany areas, as well as in Westchester and Rockland counties. Cuomo only narrowly defeated Pirro on Long Island.

Notable work as Attorney General

Template:David Paterson cabinet infobox

Police surveillance by the Governor's Office

Main article: Troopergate (New York)

On July 23, 2007, Cuomo's office admonished the Spitzer administration for ordering the State Police to keep special records of then-Senate majority leader Joseph L. Bruno's whereabouts when he traveled with police escorts in New York City.[15] At the direction of top officials of the Spitzer administration, the New York State Police created documents meant to cause political damage to Bruno.[16] The governor's staff had stated they were responding to a Freedom of Information request from the Albany Times-Union in late June.[15] A scathing 57-page report issued by the Attorney General's office concluded that Spitzer aides did not simply produce records, as the state Freedom of Information Law requires, but were instead engaged in planning and producing media coverage concerning Senator Bruno's travel on state aircraft before any FOIL request was made. [17][18] The investigation looked into both Bruno's travel and the senate leader's allegation that Spitzer used State Police to spy on him. A year long investigation and a 57 page report was drawn up by AG Cuomo's office and leaked by Democratic State operatives (though not tied to AG Cuomo's office) to the Spitzer Group that has since been charged with numerous felonies involving illegal use of state positions and resources, to smear Senator Bruno, one of New York State's "three men in a room".[19] It also suggests that the governor's staff lied when they tried to explain what they had done and forced the State Police to go far beyond their normal procedures in documenting Mr. Bruno's whereabouts.[20]

The report cleared Bruno of any misuse of the state's air fleet, which had been alleged.[16][21][22][23] The report criticized Spitzer's office for using State Police resources to gather information about Bruno's travel and releasing the information to the media.[22] New York Republican State Committee Chairman Joseph Mondello claimed that "Today's explosive report by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo validates the frightening charges that Governor Spitzer's administration abused the New York State Police and New York's F.O.I.L. laws in an attempt to set up Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno"[15] and that "This disturbing abuse of power by a Governor is unprecedented."[15] The findings of the report were endorsed by Spitzer's own Inspector General, Kristine Hamann.[15][19][22][23]

Spitzer responded at a July 23 press conference that "As governor, I am accountable for what goes on in the executive branch and I accept responsibility for the actions of my office"[15] and that his administration had "grossly mishandled"[15] the situation.[23] The Governor issued an apology to Senator Bruno and stated that "I apologized to Senator Bruno and I did so personally this morning […] In addition, I apologized to the men and women of the State Police, and to acting Superintendent Preston Felton personally for allowing this esteemed institution to be drawn into this matter."[15] Felton said he didn't realize he was part of a political scheme, and claimed in a written statement that "I have never, in my 26-year career with the state police, knowingly undertaken any such action and never would […] To the extent that circumstances previously not known to me have now given rise to that appearance, I am particularly saddened."[19]

Spitzer subsequently announced that he would indefinitely suspend his communications director, Darren Dopp, and reassign another top official.[24] When questioned about his promise to bring a new dawn of ethical responsibility to state politics, Spitzer responded by saying "I will not tolerate this behavior […] ethics and accountability must and will remain rigorous in my administration",[16] and that "I have always stated that I want ethics and integrity to be the hallmarks of my administration. That is why I requested that the State Inspector General review the allegations with respect to my office, and that is why we have fully cooperated with both inquiries."[21] As of July 2007, Cuomo's office was considering recommending disciplinary action against the Governor's office.[25]

Student loan inquiry

In 2007, Cuomo has been active in a high profile investigation into lending practices and anti-competitive relationships between student lenders and universities. Specifically, many universities steered student borrowers to "preferred lender" which resulted in those borrowers incurring higher interest rates. This has led to changes in lending policy at many major American universities. Many universities have also rebated millions of dollars in fees back to affected borrowers.[26][27]

Cuomo with Representative Gary Ackerman

Usenet

On June 10, 2008, Cuomo announced that three major Internet service providers (Verizon Communications, Time Warner Cable, and Sprint) would "shut down major sources of online child pornography" by no longer hosting many Usenet groups. Time Warner Cable ceased offering Usenet altogether, Sprint no longer provides access to the alt.* hierarchy, and Verizon limiting its Usenet offerings to the Big 8. The moves came after Cuomo's office located 88 different newsgroups that contained child pornography.[28][29][30]

Capital punishment

Andrew Cuomo opposes the death penalty.[31]

United States Senate

See also: Possible appointment choices for the New York Senate seat

After Hillary Rodham Clinton became Barack Obama's choice for the position of U.S. Secretary of State, Governor David Paterson was charged with appointing a temporary replacement until a special election in 2010 for the conclusion of her Class 1 seat. Cuomo was seen as a leading contender for this appointment (in fact, his name was first mentioned dating back to the 2008 Presidential primaries).[32][33] Caroline Kennedy (the first cousin of Cuomo's ex-wife) was another leading contender, but withdrew for personal reasons two days before Paterson was set to announce his choice, leaving Cuomo and Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand as the most likely appointees.[33][34] On January 24, Paterson announced he was naming Gillibrand to the Senate.

2010 New York Gubernatorial campaign

Main article: New York gubernatorial election, 2010
County results of the 2010 election.

Cuomo was a candidate for Governor of New York in 2010.[35][36] On September 18, 2009, advisors to President Barack Obama informed Paterson that the President believed Paterson should withdraw his 2010 gubernatorial candidacy, stepping aside for "popular Attorney General Andrew Cuomo."[37] On January 23, 2010, the New York Daily News reported that Cuomo would announce plans for a gubernatorial campaign at the end of March.[38] Later reports indicated he would announce his gubernatorial campaign coinciding with the state Democratic Convention in late May.[39] On May 22, 2010, Cuomo announced his run for governor in a video posted to his campaign website. Cuomo announced his choice for Lt. Governor on May 26, 2010; Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy was offered, and accepted, the position on the ticket alongside Cuomo.[40]

In the November 2, 2010 general election, Cuomo faced Republican Carl Paladino, a Buffalo-based businessman who has been heavily supported by the Tea Party movement. Cuomo won the election for Governor of the State of New York.[41]

Governorship of New York

Andrew Cuomo assumed the office of Governor shortly after midnight on January 1, 2011, succeeding incumbent Gov. David Paterson.

Personal life

Cuomo was married to Kerry Kennedy, the seventh child of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel Kennedy, for 13 years. They have 3 children together, Cara, Michaela and Mariah, and were separated in 2003 and divorced in 2005. He is currently dating Food Network host Sandra Lee.[42][43]

References

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/01/nyregion/01swearing.html?hp was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Blauner, Peter (February 13, 1989). "All Star Family Feud: The Governor's In-Laws Battle Over a Father's Legacy". New York Magazine. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
  3. ^ Barbaro, Michael (November 23, 2010). "All That Time Serving the Public? Very Sexy". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
  4. ^ a b O'Shaughnessy, Patrice (September 27, 2009). "Andrew Cuomo: From Horror on the Hudson to Democrats' chosen son". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
  5. ^ a b c "Andrew Cuomo bio box". The Ithaca Journal. October 23, 2010. Retrieved November 13,2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help) Cite error: The named reference "Powell" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Andrew M. Cuomo". Archives, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
  7. ^ a b c d Phil Fairbanks (August 21, 2010). "Cuomo's HUD career under scrutiny". The Buffalo News. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
  8. ^ Wayne Barrett (August 5, 2008). "Andrew Cuomo and Fannie and Freddie". The Village Voice. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
  9. ^ Dreher, Rod (September 4, 2002). "Where the Son Doesn't Follow". National Review Online. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
  10. ^ Schneider, Bill (September 6, 2002). "Let a political connection be your umbrella?". Inside Politics. CNN.com. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
  11. ^ "2002 Election Results". New York State Board of Elections. 2002-12-13. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
  12. ^ Hicks, Jonathan P. (May 31, 2006). "Cuomo Wins Democrats' Backing in Primary Race for Attorney General". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
  13. ^ Benjamin, Elizabeth (February 26, 2010). "Sharpton Praises Paterson, Won't Endorse Cuomo Today". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
  14. ^ Hicks, Jonathan P (31 May 2006). "Cuomo Wins Democrats' Backing in Primary Race for Attorney General". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h Hakim, Danny (July 23, 2007). "Spitzer's Staff Misused Police, Report Finds". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  16. ^ a b c Matthews, Cara (July 23, 2007). "Cuomo: Spitzer aides used state police to try to damage Bruno". The Ithaca Journal. Retrieved 2007-07-24. [dead link]
  17. ^ ""With BC-NY--Bruno Flights" (Cuomo report excerpts)". Newsday.com. July 23, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-24. [dead link]
  18. ^ Precious, Tom (July 23, 2007). "Cuomo criticizes Spitzer for using State Police to monitor Bruno". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 2007-07-24. [dead link]
  19. ^ a b c Gormley, Michael (July 23, 2007). "Report: NY Governor's Office Leaked Data". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 2007-09-22. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  20. ^ Hakim, Danny (July 23, 2007). "His Aura Faded Now, Spitzer Faces Bolder Enemies". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  21. ^ a b Mansfield, Melissa (July 23, 2007). "Spitzer punishes aides after AG report". Newsday.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  22. ^ a b c Gershman, Jacob (July 24, 2007). "Spitzer Faces Probe in Senate". New York Sun. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  23. ^ a b c Goldenberg, Sally (July 23, 2007). "Report: Governor's office compiled, leaked data on Bruno". Staten Island Advance. SILive.com. Retrieved 2007-07-24. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  24. ^ Jochnowitz, Jay (July 23, 2007). "AG report faults Spitzer aides in Bruno scheme". Albany Times-Union. Retrieved 2007-07-24. [dead link]
  25. ^ "Spitzer Shakeup After Report That Office Leaked Data on Bruno". 1010WINS.com. WINS (AM). July 23, 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-08-07. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  26. ^ "Cuomo: School loan corruption widespread". U.S.A. Today. April 10, 2007. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
  27. ^ Lederman, Doug (May 15, 2007). "The First Casualty". Inside Higher Education. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
  28. ^ Rosencrance, Lisa. "3 top ISPs to block access to sources of child porn." Computer World. June 8, 2008. Retrieved on September 23, 2010.
  29. ^ DeJean, David. "Usenet: Not Dead Yet." PC World. Tuesday October 7, 2008. 2. Retrieved on September 23, 2010.
  30. ^ McCullagh, Declan (June 10, 2008). "N.Y. attorney general forces ISPs to curb Usenet access". CNET News. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  31. ^ Andrew Cuomo Calls for Reexamination of NY's Death Penalty, Death Penalty Information Center, retrieved 2009-10-10
  32. ^ Chan, Sewell and Richard Pérez-Peña (2007-01-22). "If Clinton Should Win, Who Would Take Her Place?". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
  33. ^ a b Hakim, Danny (2007-10-04). "Wishing and Hoping for Clinton's Seat". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
  34. ^ Hakim, Danny (2008-11-21). "New York Weighs Options to Fill the Seat of Senator Clinton". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
  35. ^ "AIG Chief Benmosche Says Cuomo 'Unbelievably Wrong' on Bonuses". Bloomberg.com. 2009-09-01. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  36. ^ "Gov. Paterson or AG Cuomo for NY Governor?". www.WHEC.com. 2009-08-18. Retrieved 2010-05-16. [dead link]
  37. ^ "Obama cordial but cool to Gov. David Paterson". Newsday.com. 2009-09-21. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  38. ^ Molloy, Joanna (January 23, 2010). "Source says Andrew Cuomo will announce plans to run for New York Governor in March". New York Daily News. Retrieved January 24, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |newspaper= (help)
  39. ^ "Cuomo Said to Wait for N.Y. Convention to Declare Governor Run". Bloomberg.com. 2005-05-30. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  40. ^ http://rochester.ynn.com/content/top_stories/505988/cuomo-introduces-mayor-duffy-as-running-mate/
  41. ^ "Long Islanders put Paladino to test as their cup of tea," Buffalo News, September 12, 2010.
  42. ^ "AG Andrew Dating Foodie". New York Post. December 8, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  43. ^ "A TV Cook’s Next Serving? Cuomo Family Style" by Michael Barbaro, The New York Times, May 15, 2010. "Sandra Lee has built an empire with her simple cooking advice, and as Andrew M. Cuomo’s companion, she may soon be hosting parties at the governor’s mansion." Retrieved 2010-05-15.
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Political offices
Preceded by United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
1997–2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of New York
2011–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Liberal nominee for Governor of New York
2002 		No ballot line
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Attorney General of New York
2006 		Succeeded by
Democratic nominee for Governor of New York
2010 		Most recent
Legal offices
Preceded by Attorney General of New York
2007–2010 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Vice President Order of Precedence of the United States
Within New York 		Succeeded by
Mayor of city
in which event is held
Succeeded by
Preceded byas Governor of Virginia Order of Precedence of the United States
Outside New York 		Succeeded byas Governor of North Carolina

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