Michael Balboni
Encyclopedia
Michael Balboni was the Deputy Secretary for Public Safety for the State of New York, who was the senior homeland security and law enforcement official in New York Governor David Paterson
's administration. He was appointed to that cabinet-level position by former Democratic
Governor Eliot Spitzer
in January 2007.
representing the 17th Assembly District in the State Assembly for eight years until being elected to represent the 7th Senate District in the State Senate in 1997. As chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs, he spoke out for New York's need to receive additional Homeland Security funds.
Because of his reputation for garnering support across party lines, it was rumored that he would seek the Republican nomination for Attorney General in 2006. That would have opened his competitive, strongly probably Democrat-leaning, district to a threat from the Democrats
. He chose not to run after pressure from Senate Republican Leader Joseph Bruno
, to help the Republican Party retain its slim majority in the State Senate. Balboni was easily reelected in 2006, winning 70% of the votes.
On December 26, 2006, New York State Governor-elect Spitzer announced that Balboni would be appointed Deputy Secretary for Public Safety, requiring Balboni to resign his Senate seat. The move triggered a special election on February 6, 2007. For political reasons, Balboni, now working with the democrats, refused to endorse former friend and colleague Nassau County
Clerk Maureen O'Connell
(R-East Williston, NY) against Nassau County Legislator Craig M. Johnson (D-Port Washington)and Johnson won.
In his role as head of the NYS Office of Public Safety, Balboni oversaw homeland security and criminal justice agencies for Spitzer. These include the State Police, Department of Corrections, Division of Criminal Justice Services, the Division of Parole, and Office of Homeland Security. He coordinated homeland security and law enforcement policy, and served as state liaison to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. On October 30, 2007, Balboni spoke out on CNN in favor of Governor Spitzer's proposal to allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.
In January, 2009, Balboni announced he would be leaving the Paterson administration to work in the private sector as a partner with Navigators Global, a government relations and communications consulting firm.
In August 2010, Balboni left his position at Navigators Global to join Cardinal Point Strategies as a Principle and Senior Vice President in their Government Solutions Group
with his wife Stephanie and their four children: Olivia, Nicholas, Julia, and Michaela.
David Paterson
David Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting...
's administration. He was appointed to that cabinet-level position by former 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...
Governor Eliot Spitzer
Eliot 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...
in January 2007.
Political career
Balboni previously served as a RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
representing the 17th Assembly District in the State Assembly for eight years until being elected to represent the 7th Senate District in the State Senate in 1997. As chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs, he spoke out for New York's need to receive additional Homeland Security funds.
Because of his reputation for garnering support across party lines, it was rumored that he would seek the Republican nomination for Attorney General in 2006. That would have opened his competitive, strongly probably Democrat-leaning, district to a threat from the Democrats
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...
. He chose not to run after pressure from Senate Republican Leader Joseph Bruno
Joseph Bruno
Joseph L. Bruno is an American businessman, and Republican politician. He was the Temporary President of the New York State Senate and its majority leader. Most recently he also served as Lieutenant Governor of New York ....
, to help the Republican Party retain its slim majority in the State Senate. Balboni was easily reelected in 2006, winning 70% of the votes.
On December 26, 2006, New York State Governor-elect Spitzer announced that Balboni would be appointed Deputy Secretary for Public Safety, requiring Balboni to resign his Senate seat. The move triggered a special election on February 6, 2007. For political reasons, Balboni, now working with the democrats, refused to endorse former friend and colleague Nassau County
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
Clerk Maureen O'Connell
Maureen O'Connell
Maureen C. O'Connell is the County Clerk of Nassau County, New York, an adjunct faculty member of the Adelphi University School of Nursing, and a member of the School of Nursing Advisory Boards of Nassau Community College, Molloy College, and State University of New York at...
(R-East Williston, NY) against Nassau County Legislator Craig M. Johnson (D-Port Washington)and Johnson won.
In his role as head of the NYS Office of Public Safety, Balboni oversaw homeland security and criminal justice agencies for Spitzer. These include the State Police, Department of Corrections, Division of Criminal Justice Services, the Division of Parole, and Office of Homeland Security. He coordinated homeland security and law enforcement policy, and served as state liaison to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. On October 30, 2007, Balboni spoke out on CNN in favor of Governor Spitzer's proposal to allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.
In January, 2009, Balboni announced he would be leaving the Paterson administration to work in the private sector as a partner with Navigators Global, a government relations and communications consulting firm.
In August 2010, Balboni left his position at Navigators Global to join Cardinal Point Strategies as a Principle and Senior Vice President in their Government Solutions Group
Personal life
Balboni resides in East WillistonEast Williston, New York
East Williston is an incorporated village in Nassau County, New York in the United States. The population was 2,556 at the 2010 census.The Village of East Williston is in the Town of North Hempstead.- History :...
with his wife Stephanie and their four children: Olivia, Nicholas, Julia, and Michaela.