Willis Stephens
Hon. Willis “Will” Stephens Jr. (born 1955) is a Republican politician representing the 99th District in the New York State Assembly. Stephens made national headlines after a June 2005 guff when he referred to his constituents as "idiots"[1]. After serving his constituents admirably for the past 12 years, Assemblyman Stephens has risen to the leadership of the Republican Caucus. He is one of only three Republicans in the Assembly to be endorsed by Planned Parenthood [2]. 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 Ways and Means, Rules, and Judiciary Committees where he participates in negotiation of the yearly budget as well as every bill that has a fiscal impact to the State of New York. While serving as a member of the Assembly Ethics Committee, a small group of bipartisan and bicameral legislators who discussed and oversaw any violations of the ethics law in the New York State Legislature. Cite news |url= http://www.gannett.com/go/newswatch/2005/april/westchestercash.htm |publisher=The Journal News |title=Watchdogs say elections include questionable spending sprees |date=April 2005
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For the first time since taking office in 1994, Stephens is currently involved in a heated primary campaign for the Republican nomination in the 99th Assembly District.
References
- ^ "Lawmaker Apologizes for Calling Constituents 'Idiots'". ABC News. June 29, 2005.
- ^ Planned Parenthood of NY Endorsements "Planned Parenthood Endorsements". Planned Parenthood. October 3, 2005.
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