Willis Stephens
Hon. Willis “Will” Stephens Jr. (born 1954) is a Republican politician representing the 99th District in the New York State Assembly. He is best known for a June 2005 guff where he referred to his constituents as "idiots". Mr. Stephens, his wife, Ginny, and their three children reside in Brewster, New York.
Political Career and Background
Assemblyman Stephens represents the 99th District of New York which encompasses the municipalities of Patterson, Mahopac, Carmel, Southeast, Putnam Lake and Brewster, in Putnam County; Yorktown, Mohegan Lake, Somers, and North Salem in Westchester County; and Pawling in Duchess County. His family has held the seat nearly continuously for eighty years: his grand-father, D. Mallory Stephens, held this seat from 1926 to 1952; his father, Willis Stephens Sr., held the seat from 1952 to 1982; and Mr. Stephens himself has served from 1994 to present day.
Mr. Stephens is a member of the law firm of Stephens and Charbonneau, in Brewster, New York. He was awarded a Juris Doctor degree from St. John's University school of Law in 1980 and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University in 1977.
Assemblyman Stephens currently serves as the Minority Leader Pro Tempore, and sits on the the Ways and Means, Rules, and Judiciary Committees. He is one of only three Republicans in the Assembly to be endorsed by Planned Parenthood. Although he is a member of the Assembly Ethics Committee, Mr. Stephens has been cited by watchdog groups after using campaign contributions for personal expenses, including a clown for a birthday party.
See also
External links
- Official Homepage: Assemblyman Willis Stephens, 99th District of New York
- Journal News: Watchdogs say elections include questionable spending sprees
- ABC: Lawmaker Apologizes For Calling Constituents 'Idiots'
- New York Post: IDIOT POL RIPS VOTERS IN MASS E-MAIL SLIP
- Journal News: Errant e-mail post from assemblyman calls Brewster villagers 'idiots'
- AP: Politician Tells Voters They're Idiots
- Poughkeepsie Journal: E-mail gaffe leaves lawmaker red-faced
- Washington Post: 'Hey Morons, I'm sorry...'
- Fox News: Politican tells voter they're idiots
- WSMTV: Assemblyman's wayward email refers to voters as idiots
- Planned Parenthood of NY Endorsements
- Brewster10509 Listserv
- Project VoteSmart - Assemblymember Stephens