Michael C. Finnegan
Encyclopedia
Michael C. Finnegan is the managing director of investment banking
for JPMorgan Chase. Finnegan is best known as the architect of former Governor
George Pataki's
ascendancy to power from Mayor of Peekskill to Governor of New York
. Finnegan and Pataki became friends while practicing law in Peekskill and Finnegan would go on to manage Pataki's campaigns for Mayor, State Assembly
, State Senate
, and the Governorship. Finnegan was then appointed Chief Counsel to the Governor in 1995.
He left the Governor's office in 1997 to begin his career with JPMorgan. He previously taught at his alma mater, Siena College
, and was awarded the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor
in 1997. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Irish-American Republicans. In 2008, he was mentioned as a possible strong challenger to freshman Congressman John Hall in New York's 19th congressional district
. Finnegan is considered an expert in Irish politics, history and tradition and lives in Garrison, New York
with his wife and their three children.
in 1978. He spent a year studying at Ohio University School of Law
, until the death of his father caused him to return home in order to support his family. He took a position working in the communication office of James L. Emery, the minority leader of the State Assembly and later worked for Westchester County Executive
Andrew P. O'Rourke while attending law school at night at the Pace University School of Law
, where he received his Juris Doctor
. During his time in Peekskill politics, he became close friends with George Pataki
, although Finnegan and Pataki were acquaintances since he was a boy. Finnegan then went to work at Plunkett and Jaffe, P.C., where future Governor Pataki was also a partner.
He managed Pataki's successful campaigns for mayor in 1983, State Assembly in 1984 and 1986, and State Senate in 1992. He also served as General Counsel to the Westchester County
Industrial Development Council, as a member of the Peekskill Industrial Development Agency, and part-time as Peekskill's City Prosecutor
. By 1992, Finnegan opened his own law firm, working in real estate transactions and environmental law. In 1994, he was architect of Pataki's upset victory for over Governor Mario Cuomo
. Pataki and Finnegan were described as politically inseparable.
Finnegan was Governor Pataki's first appointment in the new administration. He served as General Counsel
to the Governor from 1995 to 1997, but was also the leading orchestrator of Pataki's measure that cut income tax
rates by 25 percent over four years. In 1995, Finnegan ended a century-long debate when he successfully brokered the New York City Watershed Agreement by leading negotiations among county, state, federal and New York City governments, and the environmental community. Finnegan also conceived and negotiated Pataki’s $1.75 billion Clean Water Clean Air Bond Act legislation and functioned as Executive Director of the Bond Act Committee.
Pataki also named Finnegan to the three-person Commission on Judicial Nominations, which recommends candidates to the state's highest court. He resigned as General Counsel in 1997 to take a management position with JPMorgan Chase. Upon Finnegan's departure, politicians and political analysts agreed there was a substantial void in the Pataki administration, as Finnegan was a practical negotiator with whom even Pataki's greatest opponents said they could work. Finnegan's allies and foes said "he had a rare talent for overcoming partisan barriers, forging compromise, and keeping the spotlight on his boss when something concrete was achieved".
In 2006, State Comptroller
Alan Hevesi
took criticism after approving a no-bid contract to JPMorgan, which was negotiated in part by Finnegan, although no wrongdoing was found on Finnegan's part. Hevesi would later resign over a separate incident after he pled guilty to a defrauding the government.
for a run against freshman incumbent John Hall in New York's 19th congressional district
. Finnegan was described as one of the strongest potential challengers to Hall.
Finnegan was described as a moderate Republican. He was a delegate for John McCain
to the Republican National Convention
during the 2008 Republican Presidential Primary
.
Investment banking
An investment bank is a financial institution that assists individuals, corporations and governments in raising capital by underwriting and/or acting as the client's agent in the issuance of securities...
for JPMorgan Chase. Finnegan is best known as the architect of former Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
George Pataki's
George 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 :...
ascendancy to power from Mayor of Peekskill to Governor of New York
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...
. Finnegan and Pataki became friends while practicing law in Peekskill and Finnegan would go on to manage Pataki's campaigns for Mayor, 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...
, 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...
, and the Governorship. Finnegan was then appointed Chief Counsel to the Governor in 1995.
He left the Governor's office in 1997 to begin his career with JPMorgan. He previously taught at his alma mater, 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...
, and was awarded the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor
Ellis Island Medal of Honor
The Ellis Island Medal of Honor was founded by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations and intended to pay homage to the immigrant experience. The medals honor the contribution made to America by immigrants and the legacy they left behind in the successes of their children and grand-children...
in 1997. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Irish-American Republicans. In 2008, he was mentioned as a possible strong challenger to freshman Congressman John Hall in New York's 19th congressional district
New York's 19th congressional district
United States House of Representatives, New York District 19 is located in the southern part of the state of New York. District 19 lies north of New York City and is composed of parts of Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, and Westchester Counties, in addition to the entirety of Putnam County.District 19...
. Finnegan is considered an expert in Irish politics, history and tradition and lives in Garrison, New York
Garrison, New York
Garrison is a hamlet in Putnam County, New York, United States. It is part of the town of Philipstown and is on the east side of the Hudson River, across from the United States Military Academy at West Point...
with his wife and their three children.
Political career and background
Finnegan graduated from Siena CollegeSiena 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...
in 1978. He spent a year studying at Ohio University School of Law
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
, until the death of his father caused him to return home in order to support his family. He took a position working in the communication office of James L. Emery, the minority leader of the State Assembly and later worked for Westchester County Executive
County executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
Andrew P. O'Rourke while attending law school at night at the Pace University School of Law
Pace University School of Law
Pace University School of Law, known colloquially as "Pace Law School", is the law school of Pace University, a comprehensive, independent, and diversified university with campuses in New York City and Westchester County...
, where he received his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
. During his time in Peekskill politics, he became close friends with George Pataki
George 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 :...
, although Finnegan and Pataki were acquaintances since he was a boy. Finnegan then went to work at Plunkett and Jaffe, P.C., where future Governor Pataki was also a partner.
He managed Pataki's successful campaigns for mayor in 1983, State Assembly in 1984 and 1986, and State Senate in 1992. He also served as General Counsel to the Westchester County
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
Industrial Development Council, as a member of the Peekskill Industrial Development Agency, and part-time as Peekskill's City Prosecutor
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
. By 1992, Finnegan opened his own law firm, working in real estate transactions and environmental law. In 1994, he was architect of Pataki's upset victory for over Governor Mario Cuomo
Mario Cuomo
Mario Matthew Cuomo served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994, and is the father of Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of New York.-Early life:...
. Pataki and Finnegan were described as politically inseparable.
Finnegan was Governor Pataki's first appointment in the new administration. He served as General Counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
to the Governor from 1995 to 1997, but was also the leading orchestrator of Pataki's measure that cut income tax
Income tax
An income tax is a tax levied on the income of individuals or businesses . Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence. Income taxation can be progressive, proportional, or regressive. When the tax is levied on the income of companies, it is often called a corporate...
rates by 25 percent over four years. In 1995, Finnegan ended a century-long debate when he successfully brokered the New York City Watershed Agreement by leading negotiations among county, state, federal and New York City governments, and the environmental community. Finnegan also conceived and negotiated Pataki’s $1.75 billion Clean Water Clean Air Bond Act legislation and functioned as Executive Director of the Bond Act Committee.
Pataki also named Finnegan to the three-person Commission on Judicial Nominations, which recommends candidates to the state's highest court. He resigned as General Counsel in 1997 to take a management position with JPMorgan Chase. Upon Finnegan's departure, politicians and political analysts agreed there was a substantial void in the Pataki administration, as Finnegan was a practical negotiator with whom even Pataki's greatest opponents said they could work. Finnegan's allies and foes said "he had a rare talent for overcoming partisan barriers, forging compromise, and keeping the spotlight on his boss when something concrete was achieved".
In 2006, State Comptroller
New York State Comptroller
The New York State Comptroller is a state cabinet officer of the U.S. state of New York. The duties of the comptroller include auditing government operations and operating the state's retirement system.-History:...
Alan Hevesi
Alan Hevesi
Alan G. Hevesi is a Democratic politician whoserved as a New York State Assemblyman from 1971 to 1993, as Comptroller of the City of New York from 1994 to 2001, and as State Comptroller for the State of New York from 2003 to 2006...
took criticism after approving a no-bid contract to JPMorgan, which was negotiated in part by Finnegan, although no wrongdoing was found on Finnegan's part. Hevesi would later resign over a separate incident after he pled guilty to a defrauding the government.
2008 congressional run
There was speculation that Finnegan was being recruited by the National Republican Congressional CommitteeNational Republican Congressional Committee
The National Republican Congressional Committee is the Republican Hill committee which works to elect Republicans to the United States House of Representatives....
for a run against freshman incumbent John Hall in New York's 19th congressional district
New York's 19th congressional district
United States House of Representatives, New York District 19 is located in the southern part of the state of New York. District 19 lies north of New York City and is composed of parts of Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, and Westchester Counties, in addition to the entirety of Putnam County.District 19...
. Finnegan was described as one of the strongest potential challengers to Hall.
Finnegan was described as a moderate Republican. He was a delegate for 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....
to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
during the 2008 Republican Presidential Primary
Republican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008
The 2008 Republican presidential primaries were the selection process by which voters of the Republican Party chose its nominee for President of the United States in the 2008 U.S. presidential election...
.