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Vito Lopez
Vito Lopez (b. June 5, 1941 - d. November 9, 2015) was a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly, representing District 53 from 1985 to 2013. Lopez resigned on May 20, 2013, amid a sex scandal that saw him previously cede his chairmanship of the Brooklyn Democratic Party.[1]
Biography
Lopez earned his B.S. in business administration from Long Island University, Brooklyn and his M.S.W. from Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University. His professional experience included working as an instructor at Yeshiva University, Molloy College, and Empire State College; and part-time adjunct professor of Human Services at LaGuardia College.[2]
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Lopez served on the following committees:
| New York committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry |
| • Rules |
| • Social Services |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Lopez served on the following committees:
| New York committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry |
| • Housing, Chair |
| • Rules |
| • Social Services |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Lopez served on the following committees:
| New York committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry |
| • Housing |
| • Rules |
| • Social Services |
Elections
2012
- See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2012
Lopez ran in the 2012 election for New York State Assembly District 53. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on September 13, 2012. He defeated Richy Garcia (R) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[3][4][5]
An October 2012 article in The Daily named Lopez one of the 20 worst candidates in 2012.[6]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Vito Lopez Incumbent |
89.9% | 25,956 | |
| Republican | Richy Garcia | 10.1% | 2,916 | |
| Total Votes | 28,872 | |||
2010
- See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2010
Lopez ran unopposed in the September 14 Democratic primary. He defeated Byron Orozco (R) in the general election on November 2.[7]
| New York State Assembly, District 53 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Vito Lopez (D)
|
12,892 | |||
| Byron Orozco (R) | 1,481 | |||
2008
- See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2008
On November 4, 2008, Lopez won re-election to the New York State Assembly, District 53, defeating opponent Frances Cutrone (R).
Lopez raised $452,552 for his campaign while Cutrone raised $0.[8]
| New York State Assembly, District 53 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Vito Lopez (D)
|
25,733 | |||
| Frances Cutrone (R) | 1,531 | |||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Noteworthy events
Sexual harassment allegations and resignation
Following an internal ethics committee investigation, the New York State Assembly censured Lopez on August 24, 2012, when allegations of sexual harassment brought by two female employees were substantiated. Soon after, it was reported that the Assembly made a secret payment of $103,080 on June 13 in order to settle previous allegations made by two other women, which never went to the ethics committee.[9]
Speaker of the House Sheldon Silver (D) approved the settlement, but once it came to light said it was the wrong decision. “I take full responsibility in not insisting that all cases go to the ethics committee. While that opinion is both legally correct and ethical and can result in a resolution sought by complaining employees, I now believe it was the wrong one from the perspective of transparency,” he stated.[9]
A number of officials and individuals, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), called for a full investigation. Lopez, meanwhile, insisted that he did nothing wrong and would not resign his seat, but did give up his position as chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party.[10]
Following state and prosecutorial reports alleging that Lopez harassed four female staffers in physical and non-physical manners, Lopez initially announced that he would resign his Assembly seat on June 20, 2013, the end date of that year's legislative session. However, facing threats of expulsion, he announced on May 18, 2013, that he would resign effective May 20, 2013, at 9 a.m.[1] At the time of his resignation, Lopez kept his remaining position as Democratic district leader, which prompted party leaders to unanimously pass a resolution calling for him to resign that post as well. He ran unsuccessfully for New York City Council in 2013.[11][12]
Endorsements
2012
In 2012, Lopez’s endorsements included the following:
- 32BJ/SEIU[13]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Vito + Lopez + New + York + Assembly"
See also
- New York State Assembly
- House Committees
- New York State Legislature
- New York state legislative districts
External links
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1998
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Associated Press, "NY Assemblyman accused of sex harass resigns," May 18, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2013(Archived)
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography of Vito Lopez," accessed December 24, 2014
- ↑ State of New York, State Board of Elections, "Candidate List for the September 13, 2012, State Primary Election," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑ State of New York, State Board of Elections, "Official September 13, 2012, Primary Results," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑ State of New York, State Board of Elections, "Official Assembly Election Returns Nov. 6, 2012," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑ The Daily, "The worst candidates of 2012," accessed October 29, 2012(Archived)
- ↑ New York Times, "NY state legislative election results," accessed February 11, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Report on 2008 Campaign donations in New York," accessed August 1, 2014
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 New York Times, "Assembly Leader Admits Fault as Critics Assail Secret Payoff," August 28, 2012
- ↑ New York Daily News, "Vito Lopez Gives Up On Staying Brooklyn Democratic Party Chairman," August 28, 2012
- ↑ New York Daily News, "State Democrats want scandal-scarred Vito Lopez to resign district leader post, too," May 22, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2013
- ↑ New York Daily News, "Vito Lopez a no-show on the first day of his improbable race for Council," May 21, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2013
- ↑ New York Daily News, "32BJ/SEIU Endorses For State Senate, Assembly," August 1, 2012
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
New York Assembly District 53 1985–2013 |
Succeeded by Maritza Davila (D) |
