Jack Quinn (politics)
Encyclopedia
John Francis "Jack" Quinn (born April 13, 1951) is the President of Erie Community College
and a former politician from the State of New York
. He was a Republican
member of the United States House of Representatives
.
Quinn was born in Buffalo, New York
and he graduated from Siena College
. He was an English teacher in the Orchard Park
Central School District and served on the Hamburg, New York
Town Council from 1982 to 1984, followed by a stint as town supervisor until 1993. After the retirement of Congressman Henry Nowak, Quinn was elected to the House of Representatives in 1992 representing most of Buffalo
and suburban Erie County
. The district was heavily Democratic, and had been made even more Democratic after redistricting. However, Quinn defeated Erie County Executive Dennis Gorski
in an upset. He was reelected five more times by surprisingly wide margins in what was by far the most Democratic district in the nation to be represented by a Republican. Were the district to exist now under its 1990s boundaries, Barack Obama
would have defeated John McCain
in 2008 there by 59%-40%.
Quinn had close ties to organized labor, something not common with most Republicans. Despite a close relationship with Bill Clinton
, he voted for three of the articles of impeachment
against him. There have been several suggestions that the House leadership pressured him into doing so, which were personally denied by Quinn in a 1999 article in the Washington Post. It has been reported that Clinton's visit to Buffalo after his 1999 State of the Union Address was in response to Quinn's vote.
During his tenure in Congress, Quinn was an active member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he served as chairman of the Railroads Subcommittee.
During the 2002 redistricting process, one map had Quinn drawn into a district with a longtime friend, Democrat John LaFalce. However, he ended up with a district that encompassed nearly all of his old district and added Chautauqua County
. The new district was only slightly less Democratic than his previous district; Al Gore
would have defeated George W. Bush
by a sizable margin under the new district boundaries. On April 26, 2004, Quinn announced he would not seek re-election. After leaving Congress, Quinn joined the lobbying firm Cassidy & Associates
. He was appointed President of Erie Community College
in 2008 http://www.ecc.edu/admissions/news/news_story.asp?iNewsID=568&strBack=%2FDefault%2Easp.
On November 2, 2004, Quinn's son, Jack Quinn III
was elected to the New York State Assembly
.
Erie Community College
Erie Community College is a two-year community college that is part of the 64-campus SUNY system. It is the fourth-largest community college in New York State....
and a former politician from the State of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He was a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
Quinn was born in Buffalo, New York
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...
and he graduated from Siena College
Siena College
Siena College is an independent Roman Catholic liberal arts college in Loudonville, in the town of Colonie, New York, United States. Siena is a four-year, coeducational, independent college in the Franciscan tradition, founded by the Franciscan Friars in 1937. It has 3,000 full-time students and...
. He was an English teacher in the Orchard Park
Orchard Park (town), New York
Orchard Park is a town in Erie County, New York, a suburb southeast of Buffalo, New York. According to the 2010 census, the population is 29,054. This represents an increase of 5.13% from the 2000 census figure. The town contains a village also named Orchard Park. Orchard Park is one of the...
Central School District and served on the Hamburg, New York
Hamburg (town), New York
Hamburg is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 56,259.The Town of Hamburg is on the western border of the county and is south of Buffalo, New York. Hamburg is one of the "Southtowns" in Erie County...
Town Council from 1982 to 1984, followed by a stint as town supervisor until 1993. After the retirement of Congressman Henry Nowak, Quinn was elected to the House of Representatives in 1992 representing most of 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...
and suburban Erie County
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...
. The district was heavily Democratic, and had been made even more Democratic after redistricting. However, Quinn defeated Erie County Executive Dennis Gorski
Dennis Gorski
Dennis T. Gorski is a retired politician in New York and an ex-Marine. A resident of Cheektowaga, New York, Gorski is a former County Executive of Erie County, New York, which includes Buffalo, New York and many of its suburbs. He was the first Democrat elected Erie County Executive and the first...
in an upset. He was reelected five more times by surprisingly wide margins in what was by far the most Democratic district in the nation to be represented by a Republican. Were the district to exist now under its 1990s boundaries, Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
would have defeated John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
in 2008 there by 59%-40%.
Quinn had close ties to organized labor, something not common with most Republicans. Despite a close relationship with Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, he voted for three of the articles of impeachment
Impeachment of Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton, President of the United States, was impeached by the House of Representatives on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice on December 19, 1998, but acquitted by the Senate on February 12, 1999. Two other impeachment articles, a second perjury charge and a charge of abuse of...
against him. There have been several suggestions that the House leadership pressured him into doing so, which were personally denied by Quinn in a 1999 article in the Washington Post. It has been reported that Clinton's visit to Buffalo after his 1999 State of the Union Address was in response to Quinn's vote.
During his tenure in Congress, Quinn was an active member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he served as chairman of the Railroads Subcommittee.
During the 2002 redistricting process, one map had Quinn drawn into a district with a longtime friend, Democrat John LaFalce. However, he ended up with a district that encompassed nearly all of his old district and added Chautauqua County
Chautauqua County, New York
-Major highways:* Interstate 86/New York State Route 17 * Interstate 90 * U.S. Route 20* U.S. Route 62* New York State Route 5* New York State Route 39* New York State Route 60* New York State Route 394...
. The new district was only slightly less Democratic than his previous district; Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
would have defeated George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
by a sizable margin under the new district boundaries. On April 26, 2004, Quinn announced he would not seek re-election. After leaving Congress, Quinn joined the lobbying firm Cassidy & Associates
Cassidy & Associates
Cassidy & Associates is a government-relations firm based in Washington, D.C., known for pioneering the use of congressional earmarks as a method of obtaining grants for university clients. It was founded in 1975 as Schlossberg-Cassidy Associates by Gerald Cassidy and Kenneth Schlossberg, both...
. He was appointed President of Erie Community College
Erie Community College
Erie Community College is a two-year community college that is part of the 64-campus SUNY system. It is the fourth-largest community college in New York State....
in 2008 http://www.ecc.edu/admissions/news/news_story.asp?iNewsID=568&strBack=%2FDefault%2Easp.
On November 2, 2004, Quinn's son, Jack Quinn III
Jack Quinn III
John Francis "Jack" Quinn, III is a former New York State Assemblyman representing Erie County. He is a Republican, who was first elected in 2004. He is the son of former U.S. Representative Jack Quinn....
was elected to the New York State Assembly
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...
.