Jeffrey Klein
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey David Klein is a New York State Senator
representing parts of Bronx and Westchester Counties
. He was elected to his first term in the Senate in 2004.
A lifelong resident of the northeast Bronx, he was educated in Bronx public schools. Klein received his undergraduate degree from Queens College, his Master's degree in Public Administration from Columbia University
's School of International and Public Affairs, and a J.D.
from CUNY's Law School
, where he was a member of the law review
.
A former chief of staff to Congressman James Scheuer, Klein served as a Democratic
State Committeeman and District Leader before being elected to the New York State Assembly
in 1994. During his ten years representing the 80th Assembly District in the state legislature, Jeff Klein served as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime and the Elderly, the Committee on State-Federal Relations, and the Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigations.
After former State Senator Guy Velella
was convicted on corruption charges, Senator Klein declined to seek reelection to the Assembly in order to run for Velella's seat in the New York Senate.
In the Democratic Senate Primary, Senator Klein defeated then Assemblyman Stephen B. Kaufman
. Klein received a tepid endorsement from The New York Times. Prior to running for the Senate, Senator Klein was reported to be considering a race for New York Attorney General in 2006, but did not do so because Andrew Cuomo
and Jeanine Pirro
were competing for that position. After two years in the Senate he abandoned plans to run for the Majority Leader position, instead opting for the Deputy Minority Leader spot.
Klein has introduced legislation to protect homeowners against blockbusting
real estate
solicitations and created New York's Do Not Call telemarketing registry, which has enrolled almost two million residential telephone customers since its April 2001 inception.
Klein is also a partner in the law firm
of Klein Calderoni & Santucci, LLP.
After considering a race for NYS Attorney General, Klein opted to run for re-election. In 2010, he was easily re-elected, defeating Republican Frank Vernuccio, a community activist in the Bronx.
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...
representing parts of Bronx and Westchester Counties
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...
. He was elected to his first term in the Senate in 2004.
A lifelong resident of the northeast Bronx, he was educated in Bronx public schools. Klein received his undergraduate degree from Queens College, his Master's degree in Public Administration from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
's School of International and Public Affairs, and a J.D.
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 CUNY's Law School
City University of New York School of Law
CUNY School of Law is a law school in New York City, founded in 1983.In 1981, CUNY hired Charles Halpern to be its founding Dean. This law school was established as a public interest law school. The curriculum integrates clinical teaching methods with traditional areas of legal study.In Spring of...
, where he was a member of the law review
Law review
A law review is a scholarly journal focusing on legal issues, normally published by an organization of students at a law school or through a bar association...
.
A former chief of staff to Congressman James Scheuer, Klein served as a Democratic
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...
State Committeeman and District Leader before being elected to the New York 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...
in 1994. During his ten years representing the 80th Assembly District in the state legislature, Jeff Klein served as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime and the Elderly, the Committee on State-Federal Relations, and the Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigations.
After former State Senator 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...
was convicted on corruption charges, Senator Klein declined to seek reelection to the Assembly in order to run for Velella's seat in the New York Senate.
In the Democratic Senate Primary, Senator Klein defeated then Assemblyman Stephen B. Kaufman
Stephen B. Kaufman
Stephen B. Kaufman is a lawyer and former Democratic City Councilman and New York State Assemblyman from the Bronx. In 2004, he ran unsuccessfully for the New York State Senate.-External links:*...
. Klein received a tepid endorsement from The New York Times. Prior to running for the Senate, Senator Klein was reported to be considering a race for New York Attorney General in 2006, but did not do so because Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Mark Cuomo is the 56th and current Governor of New York, having assumed office on January 1, 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the 64th New York State Attorney General, and was the 11th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development...
and Jeanine Pirro
Jeanine Pirro
Jeanine Ferris Pirro is a former prosecutor, judge, and elected official from the state of New York, who is currently a legal analyst and television personality. A Republican from Westchester County, Pirro served as a county court judge before serving as the elected District Attorney of...
were competing for that position. After two years in the Senate he abandoned plans to run for the Majority Leader position, instead opting for the Deputy Minority Leader spot.
Klein has introduced legislation to protect homeowners against blockbusting
Blockbusting
Blockbusting is a business practice of U.S. real estate agents and building developers meant to encourage white property owners to sell their houses at a loss, by implying that racial, ethnic, or religious minorities — Blacks, Hispanics, Jews et al. — were moving into their previously racially...
real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
solicitations and created New York's Do Not Call telemarketing registry, which has enrolled almost two million residential telephone customers since its April 2001 inception.
Klein is also a partner in the law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
of Klein Calderoni & Santucci, LLP.
After considering a race for NYS Attorney General, Klein opted to run for re-election. In 2010, he was easily re-elected, defeating Republican Frank Vernuccio, a community activist in the Bronx.
See also
- New York State SenateNew York State SenateThe 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...
- List of New York State Senators
- 2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis2009 New York State Senate leadership crisisThe 2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis was a political dispute in New York that began on June 8, 2009. The State Senate was controlled by Democrats with a 32-30 majority, when a bipartisan coalition of all 30 Republicans and two Democrats, Hiram Monserrate and Pedro Espada Jr., voted to...