Gary Ackerman
Gary Leonard Ackerman (b. November 19, 1942) was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from New York. Ackerman was elected by voters from New York's 5th Congressional District. He did not seek re-election in 2012.[1]
Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by GovTrack, Ackerman was a "rank-and-file Democrat."[2]
Biography
Ackerman was born in Brooklyn, New York. He earned a B.A. from Queens College in 1965, and did some post-bac work at St. John's University in 1966.[3]
Career
After college, Ackerman became a New York City school teacher in Queens where he taught social studies, math and journalism to junior high school students. Following the birth of his first child in 1969, Ackerman petitioned the New York City Board of Education for an unpaid leave of absence to spend time with his newborn daughter. However, his request was denied under then existing policy which reserved unpaid "maternity-child care" leave to women only. In what was to be a forerunner of the Federal Family Leave Act, then-teacher Ackerman successfully sued the Board in a landmark case which established the right of either parent to receive unpaid leave for child care.
Ackerman's second career move occurred in 1970, when he left teaching and founded a weekly community newspaper called The Flushing Tribune, which soon became The Queens Tribune. Ackerman served as its editor and publisher before entering public service.[4]
Committee assignments
U.S. House
2011-2012
Ackerman served on the following committees:[5]
- Foreign Affairs Committee
- Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia (Ranking Member)
- Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
- Financial Services Committee
- Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
- Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises
Issues
Specific votes
Fiscal Cliff
Ackerman voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. He was one of 172 Democrats who voted in favor of the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257 - 167 vote on January 1, 2013.[6]
Elections
2012
Ackerman did not seek re-election in 2012.[1] Gregory Meeks (D) defeated Allan Jennings Jr. (R) and Catherine Wark (L) in the general election.
2010
On November 2, 2010, Ackerman was re-elected to the United States House for a fifteenth term. He defeated James Milano (R whom also ran on the Conservative Party ticket), and Elizabeth Berney (Tax Revolt).[7]
| U.S. House, New York Congressional District 5 General Election, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Gary Ackerman Incumbent |
59.7% | 72,239 | |
| Republican | James Milano | 34.3% | 41,493 | |
| Blank/Scattering | 5.3% | 6,396 | ||
| Tax Revolt | Elizabeth Berney | 0.7% | 798 | |
| Total Votes | 120,926 | |||
Campaign finance summary
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Analysis
Congressional staff salaries
The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Ackerman paid his congressional staff a total of $920,615 in 2011. Overall, New York ranked 28th in average salary for representative staff. The average U.S. House of Representatives congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.[8]
Staff bonuses
According to an analysis by CNN, Ackerman was one of nearly 25 percent of House members who gave their staff bonuses in 2012. Ackerman's staff was given an apparent $147,633.34 in bonus money.[9]
Net worth
2011
Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Ackerman's net worth as of 2011 was estimated between $139,017 to $573,999. That averages to $356,508, which is lower than the average net worth of Democratic House members in 2011 of $5,107,874. His average calculated net worth[10] decreased by 58.67% from 2010.[11]
2010
Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Ackerman's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $457,022 to $1,267,999. Averaging to a net worth of $862,510.50 which is lower than the average net worth of Democrats in 2010 of $4,465,875.[12]
National Journal vote ratings
- See also: National Journal vote ratings
2012
Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Ackerman tied with one other member of the U.S. House of Representatives, ranking 111th in the liberal rankings among members of the U.S. House.[13]
2011
Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Ackerman tied with one other member of the U.S. House of Representatives, ranking 121st in the liberal rankings among members of the U.S. House.[14]
Voting with party
November 2011
Gary Ackerman voted with the Democratic Party 94.0 percent of the time, which ranked 50th among the 192 House Democratic members as of December 2011.[15]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term Gary + Ackerman + New York + House
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Ackerman and his wife Rita have three children: Lauren, Corey, and Ari. They also have four grandchildren. Ackerman is an Eagle Scout, as well as a very amateur photographer, an avid stamp collector and a boating enthusiast.[16]
External links
- U.S. Congressman Gary Ackerman (dead link) official U.S. House site
- Ackerman for Congress official campaign site
- Social media:
- Biographies:
- Political profiles:
- Financial (federal level):
- Interest group ratings:
- Issue positions:
- Public statements:
- Voting record:
- Media coverage:
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Associated Press, "Feisty NY Democrat Rep. Gary Ackerman retiring," accessed March 16, 2012 (dead link)
- ↑ GovTrack, "Ackerman" accessed May 16, 2012
- ↑ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "ACKERMAN, Gary Leonard, (1942 - )"
- ↑ Congressman Gary Ackerman, Representing New York's 5th District, "Biography"
- ↑ Congressman Gary Ackerman, Representing New York's 5th District, "Committees"
- ↑ U.S. House, "Roll Call Vote on the Fiscal Cliff," accessed January 4, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ LegiStorm, "Gary Ackerman," accessed October 1, 2012
- ↑ CNN Politics, "Congressional bonuses in a time of cuts," accessed March 8, 2013
- ↑ This figure represents the total percentage growth from either 2004 (if the member entered office in 2004 or earlier) or the member's first year in office (as noted in the chart below).
- ↑ OpenSecrets, "Gary Ackerman (D-NY), 2011," accessed February 21, 2013
- ↑ OpenSecrets, "Gary Ackerman (D-NY), 2010," accessed October 1, 2012
- ↑ National Journal, "2012 Congressional Vote Ratings," March 7, 2013
- ↑ National Journal, "Searchable Vote Ratings Tables: House," accessed February 23, 2012
- ↑ OpenCongress, "Voting With Party," accessed July 2014
- ↑ Congressman Gary Ackerman, Representing New York's 5th District, "Biography"
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Raymond McGrath |
U.S. House of Representatives - New York District 5 1993-2013 |
Succeeded by Gregory Meeks |
| Preceded by Benjamin Rosenthal |
U.S. House of Representatives - New York District 7 1983-1993 |
Succeeded by Thomas Manton |
| Preceded by Jack Bronston |
New York Senate - District 12 1979-1983 |
Succeeded by Leonard Stavisky |
