Michael Benedetto
Encyclopedia
Michael Benedetto is a Member of the New York State Assembly
representing the 82nd Assembly District, which covers the Co-op City
, Throggs Neck, Westchester Square, City Island
, Country Club
, and Pelham Bay
sections of the East Bronx
. After a 35-year teaching career at the elementary and secondary school level, he was first elected to the State Assembly in 2004. He is a member of the Democratic Party
.
Benedetto was born in the Bronx in 1947. He holds a B.A.
in History/Education from Iona College
and a M.A.
in Social Studies/Education.
In 1981, Benedetto co-founded the Bronx Times-Reporter
, a weekly newspaper, with John Collazzi.
Benedetto first ran for office in 1976, losing to Republican Assemblyman Guy Velella
. Two years later, Benedetto ran against Republican State Senator John D. Calandra
and lost by 1,121 votes. In 1980, Benedetto attempted to run again against Calandra. Bronx Democratic leaders, who maintained a non-aggression pact with Calandra, allowed him run in the Democratic primary. Calandra defeated Benedetto to win the Democratic nomination, and in the general election as the candidate of both the Republican and Democratic parties, Calandra easily defeated Benedetto, who ran on the Liberal Party ticket.
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...
representing the 82nd Assembly District, which covers the Co-op City
Co-op City, Bronx
Co-op City , located in the Baychester section of the Borough of the Bronx in northeast New York City, is one of the largest cooperative housing developments in the world. Situated at the intersection of Interstate 95 and the Hutchinson River Parkway, the community is part of Bronx Community Board 10...
, Throggs Neck, Westchester Square, City Island
City Island, Bronx
City Island is a small island approximately 1.5 mi long by .5 mi wide. At one time attached to the town of Pelham, Westchester County, it is now part of the New York City borough of the Bronx. As of the 2000 census the island had a population of 4,520. Its land area is 1.023 km²...
, Country Club
Country Club, Bronx
Country Club is a neighborhood located in the East Bronx in New York City. It shares the 10465 ZIP code with Throggs Neck, although it is part of Pelham Bay. The neighborhood's boundaries are Pelham Bay Park to the north, Eastchester Bay to the east, Layton Avenue to the south, and the New England...
, and Pelham Bay
Pelham Bay, Bronx
Pelham Bay is a neighborhood in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City. It is named for Pelham Bay Park, New York City's largest park which lies on the neighborhood's northeastern border.-History:...
sections of the East Bronx
East Bronx
The East Bronx is that part of the New York City borough of the Bronx which lies east of the Bronx River; this roughly corresponds to the eastern half of the borough...
. After a 35-year teaching career at the elementary and secondary school level, he was first elected to the State Assembly in 2004. He is a member of the 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...
.
Benedetto was born in the Bronx in 1947. He holds a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in History/Education from Iona College
Iona College (New York)
Iona College is located in New Rochelle, New York, 20 miles north of Manhattan in suburban Westchester County. The college occupies 35 acres on North Ave. The college also operates a Graduate Center in Pearl River, Rockland County, New York....
and a M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Social Studies/Education.
In 1981, Benedetto co-founded the Bronx Times-Reporter
Bronx Times-Reporter
The Bronx Times-Reporter is a weekly newspaper published in the Bronx, New York. It was co-founded in 1981 by John Collazzi and Assemblyman Michael Benedetto....
, a weekly newspaper, with John Collazzi.
Benedetto first ran for office in 1976, losing to Republican Assemblyman Guy Velella
Guy Velella
Guy John Velella was a Republican New York State Senator from The Bronx.A political leader, state assemblyman, and state senator for over 30 years, Velella was indicted in 2002 with 25 counts of bribery and conspiracy for allegedly accepting at least $137,000 in exchange for steering public-works...
. Two years later, Benedetto ran against Republican State Senator John D. Calandra
John D. Calandra
John D. Calandra, Jr. was a New York State Senator from the Bronx and chairman of the Bronx Republican Party. A lawyer and former United States Attorney, Calandra ran unsuccessfully for the State Senate in 1962 and 1964, losing both times to Democrat Joseph Marine.In 1965, he was elected by...
and lost by 1,121 votes. In 1980, Benedetto attempted to run again against Calandra. Bronx Democratic leaders, who maintained a non-aggression pact with Calandra, allowed him run in the Democratic primary. Calandra defeated Benedetto to win the Democratic nomination, and in the general election as the candidate of both the Republican and Democratic parties, Calandra easily defeated Benedetto, who ran on the Liberal Party ticket.