Michael Forbes
Encyclopedia
Michael Patrick Forbes is a politician
from the state
of New York
.
and U.S. Rep. Connie Mack
. Forbes was also heavily involved with Camp Agawam
of Raymond, Maine.
as a Republican. He defeated incumbent George Hochbrueckner by six percentage points. Forbes got a seat on the powerful Appropriations committee, unusual for a freshman representative, due to his ties with new House Speaker
Newt Gingrich
. In December 1996, Forbes announced he wasn't going to vote for Gingrich for speaker. Forbes voted for Rep. Jim Leach
instead. Forbes supported the Clinton impeachment.
Dick Gephardt
and Bill Clinton
.
Forbes became a target for the Republican party and Democrats who had run against Forbes had become hostile to him. Forbes' only opponent was a 71-year-old librarian, Regina Seltzer. Seltzer won a court ruling halting state Democratic Party ads for Forbes.
, Seltzer won the primary election by 35 votes. Seltzer was defeated by Republican Felix Grucci
, who was then defeated in 2002 by Democrat Tim Bishop
, who remains the incumbent. Forbes is married to Barbara Forbes and has four children: Sam, Max, Ted, and Abby.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
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...
.
Early life and career
Michael Patrick Forbes was born on 16 July 1952 in Riverhead, New York. Forbes graduated from the SUNY Albany. Forbes worked as an assistant for Republicans U.S. Sen. Al D'AmatoAl D'Amato
Alfonse Marcello "Al" D'Amato is an American lawyer and former New York politician. A Republican, he served as United States Senator from New York from 1981 to 1999.-Early life and family:...
and U.S. Rep. Connie Mack
Connie Mack III
Cornelius Alexander McGillicuddy III , popularly known as Connie Mack, is a former Republican politician. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Florida from 1983 to 1989 and then as a Senator from 1989 to 2001. He served as chairman of the Senate Republican...
. Forbes was also heavily involved with Camp Agawam
Camp Agawam
Camp Agawam is located in Raymond, Maine. It is an all-boys summer camp that began in 1919 by the Mason family, and moved to Crescent Lake, its current location, in 1920. Appleton A. Mason, "The Governor," founded the camp, and directors in order after him have been:Appleton Mason, J.R.David...
of Raymond, Maine.
Congress
In 1994, Forbes ran for the House of RepresentativesUnited 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...
as a Republican. He defeated incumbent George Hochbrueckner by six percentage points. Forbes got a seat on the powerful Appropriations committee, unusual for a freshman representative, due to his ties with new House Speaker
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich
Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich is a U.S. Republican Party politician who served as the House Minority Whip from 1989 to 1995 and as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999....
. In December 1996, Forbes announced he wasn't going to vote for Gingrich for speaker. Forbes voted for Rep. Jim Leach
Jim Leach
James Albert Smith "Jim" Leach is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa. In August 2009, he became Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities ....
instead. Forbes supported the Clinton impeachment.
Party switch
On July 17, 1999, Forbes switched to the Democratic Party. Forbes was promised financial support from House Minority LeaderMinority leader of the United States House of Representatives
The House Minority Leader is one of the party leaders of the United States House of Representatives. This title is currently held by Democratic Representative Nancy Pelosi of California....
Dick Gephardt
Dick Gephardt
Richard Andrew "Dick" Gephardt is a lobbyist and former prominent American politician of the Democratic Party. Gephardt served as a U.S. Representative from Missouri from January 3, 1977, until January 3, 2005, serving as House Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995, and as Minority Leader from 1995 to...
and Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
.
Forbes became a target for the Republican party and Democrats who had run against Forbes had become hostile to him. Forbes' only opponent was a 71-year-old librarian, Regina Seltzer. Seltzer won a court ruling halting state Democratic Party ads for Forbes.
Lost primary
In the primary electionPrimary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
, Seltzer won the primary election by 35 votes. Seltzer was defeated by Republican Felix Grucci
Felix Grucci
Felix J. Grucci, Jr. is a former United States Representative from East Patchogue, New York. He was elected as a Republican to the 107th United States Congress and served from 2001 until 2003.-Early political life:...
, who was then defeated in 2002 by Democrat Tim Bishop
Tim Bishop
Timothy H. "Tim" Bishop is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes most of Central and Eastern Suffolk County, including most of Smithtown, as well as the entirety of the towns of Brookhaven, Riverhead, Southold, Southampton,...
, who remains the incumbent. Forbes is married to Barbara Forbes and has four children: Sam, Max, Ted, and Abby.
Later career
In recent years Forbes has worked in public relations, opening his own firm. He also has blogged for the Huffington PostBiographies
- Michael P. Forbes Biography at jhu.edu