Felix Grucci Explained

Felix Grucci
State:New York
District:1st
Term Start:January 3, 2001
Term End:January 3, 2003
Preceded:Michael Forbes
Succeeded:Tim Bishop
Office1:Brookhaven, New York Town Supervisor
Term Start1:1996
Term End1:2000
Predecessor1:John LaMura
Successor1:John J. LaValle
Office2:Member of the Brookhaven, New York Town Board
Term Start2:January 5, 1993
Term End2:1996
Predecessor2:John Powell
Birth Date:25 November 1951
Birth Place:Brookhaven, New York, U.S.
Party:Republican
Spouse:Madeleine Grucci
Children:2

Felix James Grucci Jr.[1] [2] (born November 25, 1951) is an American politician from New York who served in the United States House of Representatives from New York's 1st congressional district as a member of the Republican Party.

Early life

Grucci was born on November 25, 1951, in Brookhaven, New York, to Felix James Grucci Sr. and Concetta DiDio. In 1970, he graduated from Bellport High School. After graduating from high school he started working for his family's business, Fireworks by Grucci.[3] [4]

Career

Politics

From 1988 to 1991, Grucci served on the Suffolk County planning commission.

In 1990, he received the Republican nomination to run in a special election for a seat in the New York State Assembly to replace John Powell, who had resigned after winning election to the Brookhaven Town Board. In the election he was defeated by former Assemblyman William Bianchi.[5] [6]

From 1991 to 1993, Grucci served as the chairman of Brookhaven's Zoning Board of Appeals. On January 5, 1993, he was appointed to the Brookhaven Town Board to fill the vacancy created by John Powell after he accepted a position on the Suffolk County Board of Elections.[7] In 1995, he defeated Democratic nominee Thomas Oberle to win election as Brookhaven Town Supervisor.[8] [9]

U.S. House of Representatives

2000

On March 20, 2000, Grucci announced that he would run for the Republican nomination in New York's 1st congressional district.[10] Incumbent Representative Michael Forbes, who had switched his political affiliation from Republican to Democratic, was defeated in the Democratic primary by Regina Seltzer.[11] [12] In the general election Grucci defeated Seltzer with 133,020 votes to her 97,299.[13]

During the election Grucci was endorsed by Arizona Senator John McCain, Suffolk County Republican Chairman Tony Apollaro, Suffolk County Clerk Ed Romaine, Assembly-member Pat Accampora, Brookhaven Town Councilor John LaValle, Southold Town Councilor Bill Moore, and Southampton Village trustee Bill Manger.[14] [15]

2002

During the 2002 congressional elections Grucci released a radio advertisement which stated that Tim Bishop had "turned his back" on rape victims at Southampton College. Grucci was criticized for the advertisement and Bishop filed a lawsuit to prevent the advertisement from being played.[16] [17] Amy Walter stated that the advertisement was "a big turning point in this contest" as it was initially predicted that Grucci would easily win reelection.[18]

In the general election Bishop narrowly defeated Grucci with 84,276 votes to 81,524.[19]

Later life

In 2013, Grucci and his sister, Donna Grucci Butler, stepped down as presidents of Fireworks by Grucci and were succeeded by their nephew, Felix Grucci III.[20]

Political positions

On October 10, 2002, Grucci voted in favor of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002.[21]

Notes and References

  1. News: Fuse Lit for Regional July 4 Extravaganza. Hartford Courant. April 10, 1981.
  2. News: Felix James Grucci, Jr.. Newsday. July 2, 1995.
  3. News: GRUCCI, Jr., Felix J. (1951-) . live . https://archive.today/20200630204544/https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=G000547 . June 30, 2020 . July 1, 2020 .
  4. News: November 26, 2000 . High school to business . 47 . The Post-Star . live . https://archive.today/20200630230553/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54482855/the-post-star/ . June 30, 2020 . . July 1, 2020 .
  5. News: February 19, 1990 . Elections to fill 3 Assembly seats . 10 . Star Gazette . live . https://archive.today/20200630213454/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54477009/star-gazette/ . June 30, 2020 . . July 1, 2020 .
  6. News: February 21, 1990 . Winners of three state Assembly seats are death penalty supporters . 12 . The Journal News . live . https://archive.today/20200630213458/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54477027/the-journal-news/ . June 30, 2020 . . July 1, 2020 .
  7. News: January 6, 1993 . Hempstead GOPers select Mondello aide . 556 . Daily News . live . https://archive.today/20200630214804/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54477610/daily-news/ . June 30, 2020 . . July 1, 2020 .
  8. News: November 9, 1993 . Landslide surprise for Gaffney . 177 . Daily News . live . https://archive.today/20200630215252/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54478388/daily-news/ . June 30, 2020 . . July 1, 2020 .
  9. News: Felix Grucci, Jr.'s Biography . live . https://archive.today/20200630204545/https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/55392/felix-grucci-jr . June 30, 2020 . July 1, 2020 .
  10. News: March 21, 2000 . Fireworks king Grucci to run for Forbes seat . 644 . Daily News . live . https://archive.today/20200630221848/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54480173/daily-news/ . June 30, 2020 . . July 1, 2020 .
  11. News: September 13, 2000 . 6 members of House win city primaries . 383 . Daily News . live . https://archive.today/20200630225647/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54482400/daily-news/ . June 30, 2020 . . July 1, 2020 .
  12. News: September 20, 2000 . Forbes loses to former librarian . 8 . Democrat and Chronicle . live . https://archive.today/20200630225651/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54482410/democrat-and-chronicle/ . June 30, 2020 . . July 1, 2020 .
  13. News: 2000 election results .
  14. News: January 31, 2000 . Brookhaven GOPer wins county nod . 228 . Daily News . live . https://archive.today/20200630221616/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54479961/daily-news/ . June 30, 2020 . . July 1, 2020 .
  15. News: March 31, 2000 . McCain ready to rumble for Rudy . 7 . Daily News . live . https://archive.today/20200630224853/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54481925/daily-news/ . June 30, 2020 . . July 1, 2020 .
  16. News: October 28, 2002 . Polls determine party spending . 3 . The Ithaca Journal . live . https://archive.today/20200630232919/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54484114/the-ithaca-journal/ . June 30, 2020 . . July 1, 2020 .
  17. News: October 3, 2002 . Political ad court hearing rescheduled for Monday . 11 . The Post-Star . live . https://archive.today/20200630233121/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54484450/the-post-star/ . June 30, 2020 . . July 1, 2020 .
  18. News: November 3, 2002 . New York Congressional races could help shape Capitol Hill . 6 . The Post-Star . live . https://archive.today/20200630233520/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54484691/the-post-star/ . June 30, 2020 . . July 1, 2020 .
  19. News: 2002 election results .
  20. News: January 19, 2013 . Felix Grucci is new CEO at Grucci Inc. . Newsday . live . https://archive.today/20200701000904/https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/felix-grucci-is-new-ceo-at-grucci-inc-1.4473008 . July 1, 2020 . July 1, 2020 .
  21. News: October 11, 2002 . Iraq attack OK'd on Hill . 8 . Daily News . live . https://archive.today/20200701000536/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54486522/daily-news/ . July 1, 2020 . . July 1, 2020 .

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