Christopher Jacobs (politician)
Encyclopedia
Christopher L. Jacobs was Secretary of State of New York
and was twice a candidate for the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor of New York
as the running mate
of both former Massachusetts
Gov. William Weld
in 2006 and Steve Levy
in 2010. Jacobs is currently the County Clerk-elect of Erie County, New York
, having defeated Maria Whyte in the November 2011 elections.
Secretary Jacobs is a member of the prominent Jacobs family in Buffalo, which owns the Delaware North Companies, including the Boston Bruins
hockey team. He is a nephew of businessman Jeremy Jacobs
. He is a graduate of Boston College
, holds a masters degree from American University
, and a law degree from the University at Buffalo. He served as Deputy Commissioner of Environment and Planning in the administration of Erie County Executive
Joel Giambra
. He is a developer in Buffalo
, where he has been active in redeveloping Main Street in downtown Buffalo.
Secretary Jacobs has been involved in numerous community activities in Buffalo, especially in the area of education. He is an advocate for the creation of charter schools. Jacobs co-founded the BISON Scholarsip Fund (Buffalo Inner-city Scholarship Opportunity Network) in 1995. The BISON Fund provides scholarships to City of Buffalo residents to attend private grade schools. His community work includes promoting other educational activities in local income areas of Buffalo. In 2004, he was elected as an at-large member of the Buffalo Board of Education
.
In February 2006, Secretary Jacobs was the Republican nominee in a special election for the State Senate
for a seat representing Buffalo and Niagara Falls
. He waged a strong campaign in this heavily Democratic district and lost to Democrat Marc Coppola
. In 1995, Secretary Jacobs lost a race for the Erie County Legislature.
. As secretary of state, Secretary Jacobs was in charge of preserving state records, registering corporations, administering local government policies, working on coastal development programs, regulating professions such as real estate, hair dressers and cosmetics, regulating cemeteries, overseeing state ethics, regulating boxing, and overseeing open government policies. As secretary of state, he served as the Chairman of the New York State Real Estate Board and as Chairman of the Wireless 911 Emergency System Board.
During his time as secretary of state, Secretary Jacobs took an active role in the development of the Niagara River Greenway, which is a new park being developed along the Niagara River
. In addition as secretary, he toured the state promoting local government issues and fire safety. He handed out several grants statewide to promote downtowns and coastal development. While serving as secretary of state, he continued to served as a member of the Buffalo Board of Education.
. Weld's choice of Secretary Jacobs was considered a surprise, since Secretary Jacobs is not well known statewide. Prior to Weld's announcement, newspapers speculated that Weld would either choose Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks
or Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray
for lieutenant governor.
Weld said he selected Secretary Jacobs because of Jacobs' work on education issues and upstate economic development. He said he wanted highlight economic development in upstate New York during his campaign and Secretary Jacobs' background in Buffalo would be a benefit. In addition, he praised Secretary Jacobs' education advocacy. Weld praised Secretary Jacobs for being an "Albany outsider"
and that the two were "strangers to the halls of Albany.'" Weld had previously been governor of Massachusetts, while Secretary Jacobs' family owns the Boston Bruins. At the time he was selected as Weld's running mate, Secretary Jacobs had been serving as secretary of state for six weeks.
Following his selection by Weld, newspapers reported that Secretary Jacobs had switched in the late 1990s from being a Republican to being a Democrat. He then switched back to the Republican Party a year later. Secretary Jacobs indicated he made the party switch for personal and not political reasons. In addition, newspapers reported that in the summer of 2004, Secretary Jacobs donated $250 to the gubernatorial campaign of Democratic State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer
. Secretary Jacobs said he made the donation before Weld announced that he was running for governor and now supported Weld for governor.
The week before Secretary Jacobs' selection by Weld, former Assembly Minority Leader
John Faso
announced his selection of Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef
as his running mate. Secretary Jacobs faced Vanderhoef during the Republican State Convention to be designated to be on the September primary ballot for lieutenant governor. The third candidate, Tim Demler, supervisor of the Town of Wheatfield
, withdrew, during the convention, for the good of the party to try and avoid a divisive primary. Demler had been running for lieutenant governor independent of any candidate for governor
.
The state convention placed both Secretary Jacobs and Vanderhoef on the primary ballot by a voice vote. The convention also designated Faso for governor over Weld, but gave Weld a spot on the primary ballot. Though he announced that he and Secretary Jacobs would launch their primary campaign with a statewide bus tour starting in Buffalo, on June 6, Weld dropped out of the governor's race and endorsed Faso.
On June 8, Secretary Jacobs announced he was withdrawing from the lieutenant governor's race and backed Vanderhoef.
. The incumbent, Republican Joel Giambra
, was retiring after two terms in office. After exploring the race and meeting with possible backers, in late January 2007, Secretary Jacobs announced he would not be running for county executive, saying he wanted to focus on his business interests and service on the Board of Education of Buffalo Public Schools
, where he served from that point until resigning in 2011 to seek the office of Erie County Clerk.
for lieutenant governor in the 2010 gubernatorial election
, but Levy failed to make the Republican ballot. Jacobs's selection was not made public until after Levy failed to make the ballot.
Secretary of State of New York
The Secretary of State of New York is a cabinet officer in the government of the U.S. state of New York.The current Secretary of State of New York is Cesar A...
and was twice a candidate for the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor of New York
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
as the running mate
Running mate
A running mate is a person running together with another person on a joint ticket during an election. The term is most often used in reference to the person in the subordinate position but can also properly be used when referring to both candidates, such as "Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen were...
of both former Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
Gov. William Weld
William Weld
William Floyd Weld is a former governor of the US state of Massachusetts. He served as that state's 68th governor from 1991 to 1997. From 1981 to 1988, he was a federal prosecutor in the United States Justice Department...
in 2006 and Steve Levy
Steve Levy (politician)
Steven A. Levy is the seventh County Executive of Suffolk County, New York, elected on November 4, 2003. Originally a fiscally conservative Democrat, Levy joned the Republican Party in an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for governor....
in 2010. Jacobs is currently the County Clerk-elect of Erie County, New York
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
, having defeated Maria Whyte in the November 2011 elections.
Secretary Jacobs is a member of the prominent Jacobs family in Buffalo, which owns the Delaware North Companies, including the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
hockey team. He is a nephew of businessman Jeremy Jacobs
Jeremy Jacobs
Jeremy Maurice Jacobs, Sr. perhaps best known as the owner of the Boston Bruins, is also Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Delaware North Companies...
. He is a graduate of Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
, holds a masters degree from American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
, and a law degree from the University at Buffalo. He served as Deputy Commissioner of Environment and Planning in the administration of Erie County Executive
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
Joel Giambra
Joel Giambra
Joel Giambra is the former County Executive in Erie County, New York. The county seat is Buffalo, New York, where Giambra currently resides.-Early life:...
. He is a developer in Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, where he has been active in redeveloping Main Street in downtown Buffalo.
Secretary Jacobs has been involved in numerous community activities in Buffalo, especially in the area of education. He is an advocate for the creation of charter schools. Jacobs co-founded the BISON Scholarsip Fund (Buffalo Inner-city Scholarship Opportunity Network) in 1995. The BISON Fund provides scholarships to City of Buffalo residents to attend private grade schools. His community work includes promoting other educational activities in local income areas of Buffalo. In 2004, he was elected as an at-large member of the Buffalo Board of Education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
.
In February 2006, Secretary Jacobs was the Republican nominee in a special election for the State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
for a seat representing Buffalo and Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
. He waged a strong campaign in this heavily Democratic district and lost to Democrat Marc Coppola
Marc Coppola
Marc A. Coppola is a resident of the Town of Tonawanda, New York and a former member of the New York State Assembly, where he represented the New York 60th Senate district which includes parts of the Cities of Buffalo and Tonawanda, the City of Niagara Falls and the Town of Grand Island.Coppola...
. In 1995, Secretary Jacobs lost a race for the Erie County Legislature.
New York Secretary of State
He was appointed to the secretary of state's office on April 19, 2006, by Governor George PatakiGeorge Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
. As secretary of state, Secretary Jacobs was in charge of preserving state records, registering corporations, administering local government policies, working on coastal development programs, regulating professions such as real estate, hair dressers and cosmetics, regulating cemeteries, overseeing state ethics, regulating boxing, and overseeing open government policies. As secretary of state, he served as the Chairman of the New York State Real Estate Board and as Chairman of the Wireless 911 Emergency System Board.
During his time as secretary of state, Secretary Jacobs took an active role in the development of the Niagara River Greenway, which is a new park being developed along the Niagara River
Niagara River
The Niagara River flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It forms part of the border between the Province of Ontario in Canada and New York State in the United States. There are differing theories as to the origin of the name of the river...
. In addition as secretary, he toured the state promoting local government issues and fire safety. He handed out several grants statewide to promote downtowns and coastal development. While serving as secretary of state, he continued to served as a member of the Buffalo Board of Education.
Campaign for Lieutenant Governor
Weld announced his selection of Secretary Jacobs as a running mate on May 31, 2006, the opening day of the Republican State Convention on Long IslandLong Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. Weld's choice of Secretary Jacobs was considered a surprise, since Secretary Jacobs is not well known statewide. Prior to Weld's announcement, newspapers speculated that Weld would either choose Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks
Maggie Brooks
Maggie A. Brooks is a broadcasting personality and politician most notable for having served as the first female County Executive of Monroe County, New York....
or Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray
Kate Murray
Kate Murray is the Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead, New York, United States. Murray is the first woman to be elected supervisor since the position was created in 1918.-Education and early career:...
for lieutenant governor.
Weld said he selected Secretary Jacobs because of Jacobs' work on education issues and upstate economic development. He said he wanted highlight economic development in upstate New York during his campaign and Secretary Jacobs' background in Buffalo would be a benefit. In addition, he praised Secretary Jacobs' education advocacy. Weld praised Secretary Jacobs for being an "Albany outsider"
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
and that the two were "strangers to the halls of Albany.'" Weld had previously been governor of Massachusetts, while Secretary Jacobs' family owns the Boston Bruins. At the time he was selected as Weld's running mate, Secretary Jacobs had been serving as secretary of state for six weeks.
Following his selection by Weld, newspapers reported that Secretary Jacobs had switched in the late 1990s from being a Republican to being a Democrat. He then switched back to the Republican Party a year later. Secretary Jacobs indicated he made the party switch for personal and not political reasons. In addition, newspapers reported that in the summer of 2004, Secretary Jacobs donated $250 to the gubernatorial campaign of Democratic State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer, former Democratic Party politician, and political commentator. He was the co-host of In the Arena, a talk-show and punditry forum broadcast on CNN until CNN cancelled his show in July of 2011...
. Secretary Jacobs said he made the donation before Weld announced that he was running for governor and now supported Weld for governor.
The week before Secretary Jacobs' selection by Weld, former Assembly Minority Leader
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
John Faso
John Faso
John Faso was the Republican nominee for Governor of New York in 2006, and was defeated by Democratic nominee Eliot Spitzer in the largest defeat for a Republican gubernatorial candidate in the state's history. This followed his loss to Alan Hevesi four years earlier in his run for State Comptroller...
announced his selection of Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef
C. Scott Vanderhoef
C. Scott Vanderhoef is the County Executive of Rockland County, New York and was the Republican and Conservative Party nominee for Lieutenant Governor of New York in the 2006 statewide elections...
as his running mate. Secretary Jacobs faced Vanderhoef during the Republican State Convention to be designated to be on the September primary ballot for lieutenant governor. The third candidate, Tim Demler, supervisor of the Town of Wheatfield
Wheatfield, New York
Wheatfield is a town in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 18,117 at the 2010 census. The name stems from the agricultural use of the town lands: Growing Wheat....
, withdrew, during the convention, for the good of the party to try and avoid a divisive primary. Demler had been running for lieutenant governor independent of any candidate for governor
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
.
The state convention placed both Secretary Jacobs and Vanderhoef on the primary ballot by a voice vote. The convention also designated Faso for governor over Weld, but gave Weld a spot on the primary ballot. Though he announced that he and Secretary Jacobs would launch their primary campaign with a statewide bus tour starting in Buffalo, on June 6, Weld dropped out of the governor's race and endorsed Faso.
On June 8, Secretary Jacobs announced he was withdrawing from the lieutenant governor's race and backed Vanderhoef.
2007 Erie County Executive's Race
Following his withdrawal from the lieutenant governor's race, Secretary Jacobs was rumored to be a frontrunner for the Republican nomination for County Executive of Erie County, New YorkErie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
. The incumbent, Republican Joel Giambra
Joel Giambra
Joel Giambra is the former County Executive in Erie County, New York. The county seat is Buffalo, New York, where Giambra currently resides.-Early life:...
, was retiring after two terms in office. After exploring the race and meeting with possible backers, in late January 2007, Secretary Jacobs announced he would not be running for county executive, saying he wanted to focus on his business interests and service on the Board of Education of Buffalo Public Schools
Buffalo Public Schools
Buffalo Public Schools serves approximately 47,000 students in Buffalo, New York, the second largest city in the state of New York. It is located in Erie County of western New York and operates nearly 70 facilities.-History:...
, where he served from that point until resigning in 2011 to seek the office of Erie County Clerk.
2010 lieutenant governor race
Jacobs has been reported as the choice of Steve LevySteve Levy (politician)
Steven A. Levy is the seventh County Executive of Suffolk County, New York, elected on November 4, 2003. Originally a fiscally conservative Democrat, Levy joned the Republican Party in an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for governor....
for lieutenant governor in the 2010 gubernatorial election
New York gubernatorial election, 2010
The New York gubernatorial election of 2010 was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, to elect the Governor of New York, who will serve a four-year term to begin in January 2011. Incumbent Democratic Governor David Paterson, elected as Lieutenant Governor in 2006 as the running mate of former Governor...
, but Levy failed to make the Republican ballot. Jacobs's selection was not made public until after Levy failed to make the ballot.
Sources
- http://www.dos.state.ny.us/pres/pr2006/confirmed5206.htm NY DoS release
- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9904EFDD1438F933A25752C1A9679C8B63 His father's obit, in NYT on November 10, 2001