Dennis Vacco
Dennis C. Vacco | |
---|---|
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62ndAttorney General of New York | |
In office January 1, 1995 – December 31, 1998 | |
Governor | George Pataki |
Preceded by | Oliver Koppell |
Succeeded by | Eliot Spitzer |
United States Attorney for the Western District of New York | |
In office 1988–1993 | |
President | Ronald Reagan George H. W. Bush |
Preceded by | Roger P. Williams |
Succeeded by | Patrick H. NeMoyer |
Personal details | |
Born | Buffalo,New YorkU.S. | August 16, 1952
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Kelly Vacco |
Children | Alex Connor |
Residence(s) | Buffalo, New York |
Alma mater | Colgate University(B.A.) University at Buffalo(J.D.) |
Profession | Lawyer |
Dennis C. Vacco(born August 16, 1952) is an American lawyer andRepublican Partypolitician. He graduated with a B.A. fromColgate Universityin 1974, aJ.D.from theUniversity at Buffalo Law Schoolin 1978, and was admitted to theNew York State barin 1979. He is to date the last Republican to serve asNew York Attorney General.
Background
[edit]Vacco was born inBuffalo, New York,and was raised in the western region of upstateNew York.
Political career
[edit]As Erie County Assistant District Attorney
[edit]Vacco was an AssistantDistrict AttorneyofErie County, New Yorkfrom 1978 to 1988, andUnited States Attorney for the Western District of New Yorkfrom 1988 until the beginning of theClinton administrationin 1993.
As Attorney General of New York
[edit]Vacco was theAttorney General of New Yorkfrom January 1, 1995 to December 31, 1998.
1994 election
[edit]In 1994, Vacco defeatedKaren Burstein,the Democratic nominee. One week before the election,Staten IslandBorough PresidentGuy Molinariannounced that Burstein was not qualified to serve asattorney generalbecause she was alesbian.The combination of Molinari's remarks, a strong national Republican showing, and the win ofGeorge Patakiin the governor's race, led to Vacco narrowly defeating Burstein.[1]The New York Timescalled Molinari's remarks, "gutter politics."[2]
Selected cases
[edit]Vacco brought national attention through a series of prosecutions brought againstinternet service providers,includingDreamscape Online,for distributingchild pornography.The principal defendant, Buffnet, eventually pleaded guilty to a charge of fourth degree facilitation of afelonyand was fined $5,000.[3]
Vacco played a prominent role inNew York City MayorRudy Giuliani's attempt to requireTime Warner Cableto carry theFox News Channel.An attempt by Vacco to bring ananti-trustviolation charge against Time-Warner failed.
As attorney general, Vacco also argued the landmarkassisted suicidecaseVacco v. Quillbefore theUnited States Supreme Court.He successfully defended the state's ban on the practice, winning the case by a 9–0 vote.
1998 Election
[edit]In 1998, Vacco was defeated in his bid for re-election by DemocratEliot Spitzer,by a margin of approximately 0.6% of the votes cast.[4]He was the first attorney general in New York since 1925 to not be re-elected to a second term.
Electoral history
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Dole-Kemp_Rally_at_UB_1%2C_1996.jpg/220px-Dole-Kemp_Rally_at_UB_1%2C_1996.jpg)
Vacco's electoral history has been tracked, online, atOur Campaigns,and it has been reflected here.[4]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Eliot Spitzer | 2,084,948 | 48.20 | ||
Republican | Dennis Vacco (incumbent) | 2,059,762 | 47.62 | ||
Independence | Catherine Abate | 81,439 | 1.88 | ||
Right to Life | Robert W. Dapelo | 60,399 | 1.40 | ||
Libertarian | Daniel A. Conti, Jr. | 19,864 | 0.46 | ||
Green | Johann L. Moore | 18,984 | 0.44 |
- Vacco also ran on theConservative Party of New Yorkticket in this election.[4]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Dennis Vacco | 2,294,528 | 49.28 | ||
Democratic | Karen S. Burstein | 2,206,188 | 47.38 | ||
Right to Life | Alfred I. Skidmore | 85,649 | 1.84 | ||
Independence | Thomas M. Hartman | 37,500 | 0.81 | ||
Libertarian | Dan Conti | 19,202 | 0.41 |
- Nancy Rosenstock also received 13,416 votes (0.29%) for the Socialist Workers Party in this election.[4]
- Vacco also ran on both theConservative Party of New Yorkand Tax Cut Now tickets in this election.[4]
Post-political career
[edit]Less than two months after he concluded an antitrust settlement withWaste Management, Inc.,a waste disposal conglomerate, as one of his last acts before leaving his position as attorney general, Vacco joined Waste Management as a senior lobbyist and vice president for government affairs for their operations in New York, New England, and Canada. In response to questions about the settlement and the job offer, Vacco said: "Any interpretation or suggestion that this settlement - which included theUnited States Department of Justice- was connected to my employment by Waste Management - is preposterous and false. "[5]
As a lobbyist in New York State, Vacco was identified as having made inconsistencies in required filings.[6][7]In April 2006, after a six-month investigation, Vacco was cleared of allegations that he violated lobbying regulations. The investigation "centered on whether Vacco’s firm had an illegal contingency-fee contract with a Rochester businessman in exchange for helping him win a casino deal with an Oklahoma tribe." In October 2005, Vacco’s lobbying firm agreed to pay the state $50,000 in connection with the questionable contract, but it was not required to admit wrongdoing. "[8]
Vacco is currently a partner in the Buffalo, New York law firm of Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman, LLP.[9][10]
In 2017, Vacco unsuccessful defended controversial Buffalo School Board member,Carl Paladinoafter his employment was terminated for misuse of confidential information and making what many called racist comments about former presidentBarack Obamaduring a magazine interview. After a hearing before the New York State education committee, it was determined that the Buffalo School Board had the right to terminate Carl Paladino’s employment, no further legal action was taken by either parties involved.
References
[edit]- ^Quindlen, Anna."One Candidate's Lifestyle Becomes Other's Ax to Grind".Chicago Tribune.New York Times News Service.RetrievedApril 25,2016.
- ^Opinion (October 12, 1994)."Guy Molinari, From the Gutter".The New York Times.RetrievedApril 25,2016.
- ^ISP guilty in child porn case,Wired,New York, N.Y.: Conde Nast, 16 February 2001, Sheeres, J., Retrieved 11 November 2013
- ^abcdeVacco, Dennis,Our Campaigns,1998 & 1994, Retrieved 8 January 2014.
- ^Levy, Clifford (February 19, 1999)."Vacco to Start Private Life As Lobbyist For a Hauler".The New York Times.RetrievedApril 24,2016.
- ^"Collins adds 10 to transition team". Buffalo News\Berkshire Hathaway (Buffalo, N.Y.). November 21, 2007.
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(help) - ^"Collins adds 10 to transition team". McClatchy - Tribune Business News (Washington, D.C.). November 21, 2007.
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(help) - ^Cooper, Michael (October 6, 2005)."Firms Working on Casinos' Behalf Agree to Pay Fines".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedJuly 18,2023.
- ^Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman, LLP: Business Experience: Dennis VaccoArchivedNovember 11, 2013, at theWayback Machine,Lippes,Buffalo, N.Y., Retrieved 11 November 2013
- ^Watchdog report: Vacco's work on LDCs costs $167k,Democrat and Chronicle,Buffalo, N.Y.: Gannett, 8 November 2013, Riley, D., Retrieved 11 November 2013