Shelly Skelos, Dean Silver

by: Roatti

Wed Sep 15, 2010 at 14:47:04 PM EDT

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver isn't the only Albany leader with a stock-portfolio stake in companies that do business with the state.

Republican Senate boss Dean Skelos and his wife, Gail, own shares in 14 companies with a combined 111 state contracts worth more than $2 billion.

(snip)

Earlier this month, The News reported that Silver (D-Manhattan) owns stock in 30 companies with business before the state. He has refused to say how much the stock is worth.

(snip)

Based on the ranges provided, the Skelos' total stock and mutual fund portfolio is between $432,000 and $992,000.

The couple's holdings in companies doing business with the state is between $227,000 and $615,000.

Skelos and his wife also each own stock in General Electric, which has $41.7 million in state contracts.

The senator's GE holding is worth between $5,000 and $19,999. His wife's holding is under $5,000.

Gail Skelos also has mutual fund investments of between $100,000 and $249,999 with Jennison Blend Fund and Jennison Utility Fund.

Jennison has a $3.12 million consulting contract with the state Deferred Compensation Board, records show.

How these "leaders" even sleep at night is beyond my comprehension.  

SD-9: Roy Simon Ready To Challenge Dean Skelos

by: robert.harding

Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 16:05:13 PM EDT

After I had analyzed the Long Island Senate races, I received an e-mail from Roy Simon. Simon said that he was "planning to give Mr. Skelos the surprise of his life." He also sent me his resume along with a biography of himself. Here is that bio of Simon:

Roy Simon is the Howard Lichtenstein Distinguished Professor of Legal Ethics at Hofstra law school, and is the Director of Hofstra's Institute for the Study of Legal Ethics. He received his B.A. from Williams College and his J.D. from New York University, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the N.Y.U. Law Review.  He clerked for United States District Judge Robert R. Merhige in Richmond, Virginia, then practiced law at Jenner & Block in Chicago.  He began teaching at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis in 1983 and joined the Hofstra faculty in 1992.

Prof. Simon annually writes Simon's New York Code of Professional Responsibility Annotated (now in its eleventh edition) and (together with Professor Stephen Gillers of N.Y.U.) annually compiles and edits Regulation of Lawyers:  Statutes and Standards (now in its nineteenth edition).

Professor Simon is Vice Chair and Reporter for the New York State Bar=s Committee on Standards of Professional Conduct (COSAC), which drafted comprehensive revisions to the New York Code of Professional Responsibility.  Professor Simon is a Vice-Chair of the New York State Bar Association's Committee on Professional Ethics (on which he has served since 1995), and has been a Member since 1993 of the Nassau County Bar Committee on Professional Ethics, and a Member since 2005 of the New York City Bar Committee on Professional Responsibility.  He has written a monthly column for the New York Professional Responsibility Report since 1998 and is an active consultant to lawyers and law firms, as well as an occasional expert witness.

He has been married to his wife, Karen (a Long Island native) since 1977, and has four grown children, all of whom are concerned about education, the environment, and social justice.

I have had the chance to speak to Simon twice over the telephone. He is very smart and is learning what he has to do to run a strong and efficient campaign. In the second phone call, I conducted an interview with Simon that ran nearly an hour. He talked about himself, his campaign and even presented an initial platform.

For the interview with Simon, come over the fold.  

Skelos Raises Over $391,000; Grisanti Has Over $2,300 Cash On Hand

by: robert.harding

Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:00:27 AM EDT

Skelos will be challenged by Roy Simon. I will have an interview with Roy posted later today.

Then there is a candidate like Mark Grisanti. Grisanti is challenging Sen. Antoine Thompson in the SD-60 Democratic primary. Grisanti's filing shows he had $36,206.33 in receipts and $33,835.29 in expenses. That leaves a very low $2,371.04 cash on hand for Grisanti.

So far, not too many Senate candidates have filed. Most of the filings consist of county committees and other political committees. Tuesday is the deadline for candidates and committees to submit their filings.  

Dean Skelos Elected Senate Majority Leader

by: robert.harding

Tue Jun 24, 2008 at 21:20:51 PM EDT

CapCon has the story:

Joe Bruno nominated Skelos, noting that "Dean has been running the floor. He has been assisting me in every way."

"This is a very special evening for me," said Skelos, who acknowledged his family and recalled his youth, growing up in a family of five, the grandchildren of Greek immigrants.

"Without a doubt, Joe has been the best leader that we've ever had in this chamber," said Skelos.

He then got down to business, outlining what will likely be a priority and campaign issue, saying, "We are suffering from a property tax crisis in this state...we must be bold we must think outside the box ..to protect our constituents from those rising taxes."

"I look forward to being your leader for years to come."

Governor David Paterson issued this statement regarding the election of Skelos as majority leader:

Today we witnessed the beginning of a new era in New York State government when the State Senate passed the reins of leadership from Joseph Bruno, electing Dean Skelos and Thomas Libous to serve as Majority Leader and Deputy Majority Leader.

On behalf of the people of the Empire State I would like to congratulate and welcome them to their new leadership roles and I expect we will have a smooth transition with two lawmakers of such caliber at the helm.

I had the good fortune to work with Dean, who is now the Deputy Majority Leader, and Tom, Chairman of the Transportation Committee, during my years in the Senate. They have both done outstanding work over the years and have served with distinction.

I look forward to partnering with them as we work jointly to confront the State's problems and improve the lives of the people we represent.

Welcome to the big show, Mr. Skelos. Have fun playing majority leader for the next five-plus months.