Matthew Driscoll
Encyclopedia
For the basketball coach, see Matthew Driscoll (basketball).
Matthew John "Matt" Driscoll (born February 7, 1958) is an American Democratic Party
politician, who served as the 52nd Mayor of Syracuse, New York from July 10, 2001 until December 31, 2009.
in Camillus
, a suburb of Syracuse.
He formerly owned "Rosie O'Grady's", a popular Irish pub in Syracuse. He became Syracuse's mayor on July 10, 2001 when former Republican Mayor Roy Bernardi
was appointed as deputy secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development in President Bush
's administration. As President of the City of Syracuse Common Council, Driscoll automatically succeeded Bernardi and served the remainder of Bernardi's mayoral term.
That fall Driscoll defeated several other Democrats in a primary, including Kate O'Connell. He went on to be elected after defeating former common councilor Bernie Mahoney by a thirty-two percent margin. In 2005 he defeated Mahoney's daughter, Joanie Mahoney
, by a 3% margin. Driscoll won in part by claiming that Mahoney's race was funded by developer Robert Congel, a Bush-Cheney fundraiser who was overseeing the proposed expansion of the Carousel Center
shopping mall. Driscoll campaigned alongside Eliot Spitzer
, who had already begun his campaign to win New York's governorship in 2006; Spitzer's then-widespread popularity among New York Democrats likely helped Driscoll cement support from the majority-Democrat city. He won re-election, again by a slim 3% margin (49% to 46%) Previously, he served as President of the Syracuse Common Council from 1998 to 2001, as Third District Councilor in 1995, and as Second District Councilor from 1987 to 1989.
On April 26, 2007, Driscoll announced that he would not seek the office of County Executive, which has been left open due to the retirement of longtime Republican incumbent Nicholas Pirro. Driscoll said he would serve out his term through to December 2009, which also would rule out a run for Congress against James T. Walsh
in 2008. Driscoll was mentioned as a possible candidate for Lieutenant Governor of New York
as a possible running-mate to incumbent Governor David Paterson
in 2010.
, a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets". The Coalition is co-chaired by Mayors Thomas Menino
and Michael Bloomberg
.
Matthew John "Matt" Driscoll (born February 7, 1958) is an American Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician, who served as the 52nd Mayor of Syracuse, New York from July 10, 2001 until December 31, 2009.
Biography
Driscoll graduated in 1976 from West Genesee High SchoolWest Genesee High School
West Genesee High School , is an American public high school in Camillus, New York serving ninth through twelfth grade students. The school is part of the West Genesee Central School District....
in Camillus
Camillus, New York
Camillus, New York is located in Onondaga County. There are two parts to Camillus, New York:*Camillus, New York *Camillus, New York...
, a suburb of Syracuse.
He formerly owned "Rosie O'Grady's", a popular Irish pub in Syracuse. He became Syracuse's mayor on July 10, 2001 when former Republican Mayor Roy Bernardi
Roy Bernardi
Roy Albert Bernardi is a former United States Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development . He was nominated by President George W...
was appointed as deputy secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development in President 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....
's administration. As President of the City of Syracuse Common Council, Driscoll automatically succeeded Bernardi and served the remainder of Bernardi's mayoral term.
That fall Driscoll defeated several other Democrats in a primary, including Kate O'Connell. He went on to be elected after defeating former common councilor Bernie Mahoney by a thirty-two percent margin. In 2005 he defeated Mahoney's daughter, Joanie Mahoney
Joanie Mahoney
Joanne M. "Joanie" Mahoney is the County Executive of Onondaga County, New York. She is the first woman to hold this position. She took office on Tuesday, January 1, 2008.-Personal:...
, by a 3% margin. Driscoll won in part by claiming that Mahoney's race was funded by developer Robert Congel, a Bush-Cheney fundraiser who was overseeing the proposed expansion of the Carousel Center
Carousel Center
Carousel Center is a , seven-story super-regional shopping and entertainment complex on the shore of Onondaga Lake in Syracuse, New York. It has eight anchor store slots - currently filled with Best Buy, Bon Ton, Forever 21 , JCPenney, Macy's, Lord & Taylor, and Sports Authority...
shopping mall. Driscoll campaigned alongside 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...
, who had already begun his campaign to win New York's governorship in 2006; Spitzer's then-widespread popularity among New York Democrats likely helped Driscoll cement support from the majority-Democrat city. He won re-election, again by a slim 3% margin (49% to 46%) Previously, he served as President of the Syracuse Common Council from 1998 to 2001, as Third District Councilor in 1995, and as Second District Councilor from 1987 to 1989.
On April 26, 2007, Driscoll announced that he would not seek the office of County Executive, which has been left open due to the retirement of longtime Republican incumbent Nicholas Pirro. Driscoll said he would serve out his term through to December 2009, which also would rule out a run for Congress against James T. Walsh
James T. Walsh
James Thomas "Jim" Walsh is an American Republican politician from Syracuse, New York. In 2009, he retired after representing a portion of Central New York, that is now known as the state's 25th Congressional District, in the United States House of Representatives for twenty years.-Early...
in 2008. Driscoll was mentioned as a possible candidate 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 a possible running-mate to incumbent Governor David Paterson
David Paterson
David Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting...
in 2010.
Affiliations
Driscoll is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns CoalitionMayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition
Mayors Against Illegal Guns is a coalition of over 600 mayors who support a number of gun control initiatives that the group calls "commonsense reforms" to fight illegal gun trafficking and gun violence in the United States...
, a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets". The Coalition is co-chaired by Mayors Thomas Menino
Thomas Menino
Thomas Michael "Tom" Menino is the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, United States and the city's first Italian-American mayor...
and Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
.