Rick Lazio
Encyclopedia
Enrico Anthony "Rick" Lazio (ˈlæzi.oʊ; born March 13, 1958) is a former U.S. Representative
from the state
of New York
. Lazio became well known nationally when he ran against Hillary Rodham Clinton
for the U.S. Senate
in New York's 2000 Senate election. Lazio also ran for the 2010 New York Republican gubernatorial nomination, but lost to Carl Paladino
.
in Suffolk County
on Long Island. He graduated from West Islip High School in 1976. He received his A.B.
from Vassar College
in 1980 and received his Juris Doctor
from the Washington College of Law
at American University
.
Prior to being elected to Congress, Lazio was the executive assistant district attorney for Suffolk County and served in the Suffolk County Legislature from 1990 to 1993. He currently resides in Bay Shore on Long Island
, and in New York City
.
In Congress, Lazio served as Deputy Majority Whip
, Assistant Majority Leader, and Chairman of the House Banking Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity
.
. His comparatively late entry into the race (five months before Election Day
) followed New York City
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's decision to withdraw from the Senate race.
Lazio was dogged during the senatorial campaign with questioning by the SEC into his stock option transactions (e.g., Quick & Reilly, Monsanto, U.S. Filter). After Lazio responded to the inquiry, the SEC took no further action.
A decisive moment that was detrimental to his campaign came during a September 13, 2000 debate when he left his podium, walked over to Clinton with a piece of paper that he called the "New York Freedom From Soft Money Pledge" and demanded she sign it. Clinton refused. Some debate viewers were turned off by Lazio's demeanor towards Clinton – and as a result, Clinton's support among women voters solidified.
Lazio has since expressed regret for his conduct, widely regarded as "bullying and chauvinistic", during the debate:
Lazio gave up his House seat to run for Senate. Following his defeat, which set a record for the most money spent in a losing Senate effort, he took positions in the corporate world and avoided electoral politics for a decade. Notably he has worked for several years as a highly-paid lobbyist for J.P. Morgan.
. In May 2009, he filed paperwork with the state board of elections to form a campaign committee. Mr. Lazio declared his candidacy for governor in New York City
on September 21, 2009, with a formal announcement in Albany, NY on September 22.
On May 28, 2010 Lazio officially received the backing of the New York State Conservative Party. Lazio had already been endorsed by Mike Long, the Conservative Party leader.
On June 2, 2010 Lazio received the New York State Republican Party's designation for Governor, overwhelmingly defeating Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy
. Lazio received 59%, Levy 28%, Paladino 8% and Mermel 4%.
Lazio's Republican primary opponent, Carl Paladino
, has been supported heavily by the Tea Party movement
.
Lazio was defeated in the Republican primary by Carl Paladino
on September 14, 2010 after Paladino petitioned his way onto the ballot. He did win the Conservative Party primary over dummy candidate
Ralph Lorigo on the same day. Lazio won most of downstate New York
, but lost in all but two counties in upstate New York
. On September 27, Lazio announced he was no longer going to run on the Conservative Party line, and would instead become a dummy candidate
for a judgeship in the Bronx, allowing the line to be cleared for another candidate. Lazio indicated he had no desire to actually be a judge and would resign immediately in the event he was actually elected to the post (the Bronx has heavy Democratic Party voter enrollment, making such an event highly improbable). He and defeated lieutenant governor candidate Thomas Ognibene were placed in the same Bronx court election against Democrat Edgar G. Walker (with Lazio as the Republican nominee and Ognibene as the Conservative nominee); Walker defeated both candidates.
reported that Lazio was "testing the waters" for a possible run for Suffolk County
Executive, to replace Steve Levy
. Lazio's personal website had begun to display on Google
as "Rick for US Senate," indicating that he may run against Democratic incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand
. Rick Lazio assured in June 2011 that he was "Running for nothing" and instead wanted to focus on getting young people involved in politics.
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...
from the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
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...
. Lazio became well known nationally when he ran against Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
for the U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in New York's 2000 Senate election. Lazio also ran for the 2010 New York Republican gubernatorial nomination, but lost to Carl Paladino
Carl Paladino
Carl Pasquale Paladino is an American businessman and political activist from Buffalo, New York. Paladino is the founder and chairman of Ellicott Development Company, a real estate development company he founded in 1973. He was the 2010 Republican nominee for the New York gubernatorial election,...
.
Early life, education and career
Lazio was born into an Italian-American family in Amityville, New YorkAmityville, New York
Amityville is a village in the town of Babylon in Suffolk County, New York, in the United States. The population was 9,441 at the 2000 census.-History:...
in Suffolk County
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
on Long Island. He graduated from West Islip High School in 1976. He received his A.B.
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...
from Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
in 1980 and 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...
from the Washington College of Law
Washington College of Law
American University Washington College of Law is the law school of American University. It is located on Massachusetts Avenue in the Spring Valley neighborhood of northwest Washington. WCL is ranked 50th among law schools by US News and World Report...
at 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...
.
Prior to being elected to Congress, Lazio was the executive assistant district attorney for Suffolk County and served in the Suffolk County Legislature from 1990 to 1993. He currently resides in Bay Shore on Long Island
Long 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...
, and in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
U.S. Representative
Lazio represented the New York 2nd Congressional District as a Republican. He was first elected in 1992, defeating the incumbent, Tom Downey, who had served for eighteen years. Lazio served four terms from 1993 to 2001, winning re-election by the largest margin in the history of the district.In Congress, Lazio served as Deputy Majority Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
, Assistant Majority Leader, and Chairman of the House Banking Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity
United States House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity
The U.S. House Financial Services Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity is a subcommittee of the House Committee on Financial Services.-Jurisdiction:...
.
2000 U.S. Senate campaign
In 2000, Lazio ran for the Senate but was defeated by Hillary Clinton in the race to succeed Daniel Patrick MoynihanDaniel Patrick Moynihan
Daniel Patrick "Pat" Moynihan was an American politician and sociologist. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected to the United States Senate for New York in 1976, and was re-elected three times . He declined to run for re-election in 2000...
. His comparatively late entry into the race (five months before Election Day
Election Day (United States)
Election Day in the United States is the day set by law for the general elections of public officials. It occurs on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The earliest possible date is November 2 and the latest possible date is November 8...
) followed New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's decision to withdraw from the Senate race.
Lazio was dogged during the senatorial campaign with questioning by the SEC into his stock option transactions (e.g., Quick & Reilly, Monsanto, U.S. Filter). After Lazio responded to the inquiry, the SEC took no further action.
A decisive moment that was detrimental to his campaign came during a September 13, 2000 debate when he left his podium, walked over to Clinton with a piece of paper that he called the "New York Freedom From Soft Money Pledge" and demanded she sign it. Clinton refused. Some debate viewers were turned off by Lazio's demeanor towards Clinton – and as a result, Clinton's support among women voters solidified.
Lazio has since expressed regret for his conduct, widely regarded as "bullying and chauvinistic", during the debate:
Lazio gave up his House seat to run for Senate. Following his defeat, which set a record for the most money spent in a losing Senate effort, he took positions in the corporate world and avoided electoral politics for a decade. Notably he has worked for several years as a highly-paid lobbyist for J.P. Morgan.
2010 New York gubernatorial campaign
In January 2009, Lazio was said to be seriously considering a run in the New York gubernatorial election, 2010New 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...
. In May 2009, he filed paperwork with the state board of elections to form a campaign committee. Mr. Lazio declared his candidacy for governor in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on September 21, 2009, with a formal announcement in Albany, NY on September 22.
On May 28, 2010 Lazio officially received the backing of the New York State Conservative Party. Lazio had already been endorsed by Mike Long, the Conservative Party leader.
On June 2, 2010 Lazio received the New York State Republican Party's designation for Governor, overwhelmingly defeating Suffolk County Executive 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....
. Lazio received 59%, Levy 28%, Paladino 8% and Mermel 4%.
Lazio's Republican primary opponent, Carl Paladino
Carl Paladino
Carl Pasquale Paladino is an American businessman and political activist from Buffalo, New York. Paladino is the founder and chairman of Ellicott Development Company, a real estate development company he founded in 1973. He was the 2010 Republican nominee for the New York gubernatorial election,...
, has been supported heavily by the Tea Party movement
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
.
Lazio was defeated in the Republican primary by Carl Paladino
Carl Paladino
Carl Pasquale Paladino is an American businessman and political activist from Buffalo, New York. Paladino is the founder and chairman of Ellicott Development Company, a real estate development company he founded in 1973. He was the 2010 Republican nominee for the New York gubernatorial election,...
on September 14, 2010 after Paladino petitioned his way onto the ballot. He did win the Conservative Party primary over dummy candidate
Dummy candidate
A Dummy candidate is a candidate who stands for election with no intention of winning but to direct preferences to other candidates in order to increase their share of the vote....
Ralph Lorigo on the same day. Lazio won most of downstate New York
Downstate New York
Downstate New York is a term denoting the southeastern portion of New York State, United States, in contrast to Upstate New York. The term "Downstate New York" has significantly less currency than its counterpart term "Upstate New York", and the Downstate region is often not regarded as one...
, but lost in all but two counties in upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
. On September 27, Lazio announced he was no longer going to run on the Conservative Party line, and would instead become a dummy candidate
Dummy candidate
A Dummy candidate is a candidate who stands for election with no intention of winning but to direct preferences to other candidates in order to increase their share of the vote....
for a judgeship in the Bronx, allowing the line to be cleared for another candidate. Lazio indicated he had no desire to actually be a judge and would resign immediately in the event he was actually elected to the post (the Bronx has heavy Democratic Party voter enrollment, making such an event highly improbable). He and defeated lieutenant governor candidate Thomas Ognibene were placed in the same Bronx court election against Democrat Edgar G. Walker (with Lazio as the Republican nominee and Ognibene as the Conservative nominee); Walker defeated both candidates.
2012 Speculation
On April 9, 2011, NewsdayNewsday
Newsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
reported that Lazio was "testing the waters" for a possible run for Suffolk County
Suffolk County
Suffolk County may refer to one of several counties:* Suffolk, a county of England* Suffolk County, Massachusetts* Suffolk County, New York* Suffolk, Virginia, an "independent city" in Virginia, that for all intents and purposes, is a County, as are all of the independent cities in Virginia, such...
Executive, to replace 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....
. Lazio's personal website had begun to display on Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
as "Rick for US Senate," indicating that he may run against Democratic incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand
Kirsten Gillibrand
Kirsten Elizabeth Rutnik Gillibrand is an attorney and the junior United States Senator from the state of New York and a member of the Democratic Party...
. Rick Lazio assured in June 2011 that he was "Running for nothing" and instead wanted to focus on getting young people involved in politics.
Electoral history
External links
- Rick Lazio for Governor official campaign site