Joseph Griffo
Encyclopedia
Joseph A. “Joe” Griffo of Rome, New York
is currently a New York State Senator
representing the 47th district. The 47th district encompasses all of Lewis County
, most of Oneida County
, and St. Lawrence County
.
where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science
. Griffo first served in government during his senior year of college at an internship with State Assemblyman
James Hurley. After college, he served as Director of Community Relations for the City of Rome and as an Administrative Assistant to mayor Carl Eilenberg. Griffo was arrested on August 1, 1988 after allegedly serving alcohol, or permitting alcohol to be served to minors at a party he hosted at the Erie Canal Village, in Rome, NY. His case was discharged under contemplation of dismissal. Griffo’s first term in elected office was in 1989, when he won a seat in the Oneida County Legislature.
in 1993 - perhaps the worst single economic blow the county has ever seen." Griffo managed to streamline the city government by consolidating departments and making services more efficient. He successfully merged the parks and recreation departments and handed over the city's weights and measures and emergency management departments to the county, resulting in massive savings in the budget. In order to prevent closures and service cuts, he privatized Rome Hospital, the Erie Canal Village and the city trash collection, which all went on to become successful business enterprises. Griffo accomplished all of this in a bipartisan way, as the city council was overwhelmingly Democratic during his time in office.
to Rome, NY. His driving effort to bring the concert to Rome earned him the nickname “The Rock N’ Roll Mayor.” The concert was held at the deserted Griffiss Air Force Base and served as a precedent to using the space for future concerts and events. Woodstock ’99 attracted over 200,000 people and poured much needed money into the local economy. The event was largely successful until the final day, when the audience, encouraged by the performing band, began making bonfires.
As the crowd got more out of control, state troopers and local police dispersed the audience without further incident.
During his time as County Executive, Griffo stayed true to his fiscal conservative principles. After raising taxes 16% for 2003, his predecessor announced that taxes for 2004 may need to be raised by as much as 26% due to skyrocketing Medicare costs and retirement benefits. However, after Griffo was appointed County Executive, he was able to balance the 2004 budget in such a way that taxes only needed to be raised 2.9%. Griffo also managed to deliver additional benefits to the county of Oneida. In 2005, he implemented a prescription drug plan that cut drug costs for Oneida county residents by up to 38%.
In 2006, Julian decided to run against Griffo in the Republican primary for State Senator. While Julian lost the primary, he secured a spot on the Independence Party ticket and continued his campaign. A week before the election, Julian inexplicably dropped out of the race.
Griffo also helped unite local and state politicians to help kill the plan.
, who was running for Congress in the 24th Congressional District of New York. Griffo was reelected in 2008.
Among Griffo’s significant legislation was a law that created the website ResultsNY.gov where anyone could log on and see how state funds were being used. The bill was instrumental in improving transparency and accountability. Griffo also championed to reform state government by proposing bills that would create term limits for the Governor, Comptroller and Attorney-General as well as forcing vacancies at statewide positions to be filled through popular election rather than appointment by the Governor.
Also, “His bills have included child abuse victim protection, a law to keep snowmobile fees for trail system use and legislation capping assessment increases for farmers.” Griffo has also continued making government more efficient through consolidation and eliminating waste.
Griffo voted against same-sex marriage legislation on December 2, 2009; the bill was defeated.
's father Bernard Spitzer
gave him when he ran for attorney general in 1998, a loan Mr. Spitzer has acknowledged not being truthful about. Committee Chairman George Winner told The New York Post that subpoenas should be used to find out about the loans. Winner wrote to Griffo, who is the Chairman of the Senate Elections Committee, that an article profiling Spitzer in New York Magazine "outlined what may have been a willful effort by Eliot Spitzer and his father to circumvent campaign-contribution limits in New York state law and then conceal their actions." In 1998, Spitzer claimed that he secured the $5 million loan by mortgaging apartments his developer had given him, but later revealed that his father was actually paying off the loans and, therefore, financing his campaign.
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Rome, New York
Rome is a city in Oneida County, New York, United States. It is located in north-central or "upstate" New York. The population was 44,797 at the 2010 census. It is in New York's 24th congressional district. In 1758, British forces began construction of Fort Stanwix at this strategic location, but...
is currently a New York State Senator
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 the 47th district. The 47th district encompasses all of Lewis County
Lewis County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,944 people, 10,040 households, and 7,309 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile . There were 15,134 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
, most of Oneida County
Oneida County, New York
Oneida County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 234,878. The county seat is Utica. The name is in honor of the Oneida, an Iroquoian tribe that formerly occupied the region....
, and St. Lawrence County
St. Lawrence County, New York
St. Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 111,944. The county seat is Canton. The county is named for the Saint Lawrence River, which in turn was named for the Catholic saint on whose Feast day the river was discovered by...
.
Early life
Joseph Griffo was born to Joseph and Betty Griffo in Rome, New York. While he was an only child, Griffo had a large extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins. His mother was a seamstress and his father worked as a meter officer. Griffo went through the Rome public school system and graduated from Rome Free Academy High School in 1974. He then went on to State University of New York at BrockportState University of New York at Brockport
The College at Brockport: State University of New York, also known as SUNY Brockport, Brockport State, College at Brockport, or the State University of New York at Brockport, is a four-year liberal arts college located in Brockport, Monroe County, New York, United States, near Rochester...
where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. Griffo first served in government during his senior year of college at an internship with State Assemblyman
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...
James Hurley. After college, he served as Director of Community Relations for the City of Rome and as an Administrative Assistant to mayor Carl Eilenberg. Griffo was arrested on August 1, 1988 after allegedly serving alcohol, or permitting alcohol to be served to minors at a party he hosted at the Erie Canal Village, in Rome, NY. His case was discharged under contemplation of dismissal. Griffo’s first term in elected office was in 1989, when he won a seat in the Oneida County Legislature.
Mayor of Rome: 1992-2003
Griffo was elected mayor of his hometown, Rome, NY in 1991, and won two subsequent elections in 1995 and 1999. Griffo began establishing his fiscal conservative credentials during his time as mayor of Rome. He eliminated Rome’s special one-quarter percent sales tax. Also, Griffo “was able to prevent a tax hike there (Rome) in all but one of his years in office, despite the crippling loss of Griffiss Air Force BaseGriffiss Air Force Base
Griffiss Air Force Base, is a former United States Air Force base, located in Rome, New York, about NW of Utica. Missions at Griffiss AFB included fighter interceptors, electronic research, installation, and support activities, aerial refueling, and bombers...
in 1993 - perhaps the worst single economic blow the county has ever seen." Griffo managed to streamline the city government by consolidating departments and making services more efficient. He successfully merged the parks and recreation departments and handed over the city's weights and measures and emergency management departments to the county, resulting in massive savings in the budget. In order to prevent closures and service cuts, he privatized Rome Hospital, the Erie Canal Village and the city trash collection, which all went on to become successful business enterprises. Griffo accomplished all of this in a bipartisan way, as the city council was overwhelmingly Democratic during his time in office.
Woodstock ‘99
Griffo was instrumental in bringing Woodstock 1999Woodstock 1999
Woodstock 1999, also called Woodstock 99, performed July 22–25, 1999, was the second large-scale music festival that attempted to emulate the original Woodstock Festival of 1969. Like the previous Woodstock festivals it was performed in upstate New York, this time in Rome, New York, around 200...
to Rome, NY. His driving effort to bring the concert to Rome earned him the nickname “The Rock N’ Roll Mayor.” The concert was held at the deserted Griffiss Air Force Base and served as a precedent to using the space for future concerts and events. Woodstock ’99 attracted over 200,000 people and poured much needed money into the local economy. The event was largely successful until the final day, when the audience, encouraged by the performing band, began making bonfires.
As the crowd got more out of control, state troopers and local police dispersed the audience without further incident.
Oneida County Executive: 2003-2006
Griffo was appointed Oneida County Executive in June 2003 to serve out the term of his predecessor. Griffo then won the election in November 2003 in what was called an “honorable” and “responsible” campaign.During his time as County Executive, Griffo stayed true to his fiscal conservative principles. After raising taxes 16% for 2003, his predecessor announced that taxes for 2004 may need to be raised by as much as 26% due to skyrocketing Medicare costs and retirement benefits. However, after Griffo was appointed County Executive, he was able to balance the 2004 budget in such a way that taxes only needed to be raised 2.9%. Griffo also managed to deliver additional benefits to the county of Oneida. In 2005, he implemented a prescription drug plan that cut drug costs for Oneida county residents by up to 38%.
Conflict With Mayor Julian
In 2004, Griffo was forced to make a special 1.5% increase in sales tax for the 2005 budget in order to cover soaring Medicaid costs. Normally, sales tax revenues are split amongst state, county and townships/cities. However, in order to cover mandated Medicaid costs, the 1.5% increase would all go to the county government. Utica Mayor Tim Julian began claiming a share of the revenues. Despite being alone in his request as the Mayor of Rome stated he did not feel entitled to the revenues, Julian persisted in his demands against Griffo. Although Buffalo had won similar requests over a sales tax dispute with the county, Griffo remained adamant in refusing to split the revenues. Griffo tried to disarm the situation by offering the city of Utica $800,000 in debt forgiveness which Julian refused. Griffo eventually won out and the county did not split the extra sales tax revenues with Utica.In 2006, Julian decided to run against Griffo in the Republican primary for State Senator. While Julian lost the primary, he secured a spot on the Independence Party ticket and continued his campaign. A week before the election, Julian inexplicably dropped out of the race.
NYRI
Griffo helped stop the New York Regional Interconnect (NYRI) plan to run electricity from Canada through Oneida county. Concerned citizens feared the project would increase electricity costs in the area and pose health and safety risks to residents. A grassroots effort formed opposing the plan and Griffo supported the local effort with $50,000 of county money.Griffo also helped unite local and state politicians to help kill the plan.
New York State Senator: 2007-present
Despite an overwhelmingly Democratic year, Griffo was elected by a wide margin in 2006 to represent the 47th district in the New York State Senate. He replaced Raymond MeierRaymond Meier
Raymond A. "Ray" Meier was born on October 23, 1952, in Rome, New York to Alfred and Irene Meier. Mr. Meier served as a Republican in the New York State Senate representing New York's 47th district for five terms. The 47th Senate district comprises Lewis County as well as portions of St...
, who was running for Congress in the 24th Congressional District of New York. Griffo was reelected in 2008.
Among Griffo’s significant legislation was a law that created the website ResultsNY.gov where anyone could log on and see how state funds were being used. The bill was instrumental in improving transparency and accountability. Griffo also championed to reform state government by proposing bills that would create term limits for the Governor, Comptroller and Attorney-General as well as forcing vacancies at statewide positions to be filled through popular election rather than appointment by the Governor.
Also, “His bills have included child abuse victim protection, a law to keep snowmobile fees for trail system use and legislation capping assessment increases for farmers.” Griffo has also continued making government more efficient through consolidation and eliminating waste.
Griffo voted against same-sex marriage legislation on December 2, 2009; the bill was defeated.
Role in investigation of Governor Spitzer
The Senate Committee on Investigations is considering investigating a controversial multimillion-dollar loan that New York State Governor Eliot SpitzerEliot Spitzer
Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer, former Democratic Party politician, and political commentator. He was the co-host of In the Arena, a talk-show and punditry forum broadcast on CNN until CNN cancelled his show in July of 2011...
's father Bernard Spitzer
Bernard Spitzer
Bernard Spitzer is an American real estate developer and philanthropist in New York City who built several landmark buildings around the city including The Corinthian which was the largest individual apartment building in New York City when it was built. Spitzer is father of former New York...
gave him when he ran for attorney general in 1998, a loan Mr. Spitzer has acknowledged not being truthful about. Committee Chairman George Winner told The New York Post that subpoenas should be used to find out about the loans. Winner wrote to Griffo, who is the Chairman of the Senate Elections Committee, that an article profiling Spitzer in New York Magazine "outlined what may have been a willful effort by Eliot Spitzer and his father to circumvent campaign-contribution limits in New York state law and then conceal their actions." In 1998, Spitzer claimed that he secured the $5 million loan by mortgaging apartments his developer had given him, but later revealed that his father was actually paying off the loans and, therefore, financing his campaign.
Electoral history
- Note: In New YorkElections in New YorkUnlike in most states, New York electoral law permits electoral fusion. As a result, New York ballots tend to list a large number of political parties...
fusion ticketsElectoral fusionElectoral fusion is an arrangement where two or more political parties on a ballot list the same candidate, pooling the votes for that candidate...
, votes are tallied towards the party voted for as shown on the ballot line. The votes column is the number of votes cast towards each party's ballot line. The % column is the percentage of the total vote received towards each candidate. This is done to help illustrate the appearance of the ballot as well as the final results of the election.
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