Felix Grucci

Felix James Grucci Jr.[1][2] (born November 25, 1951) is an American politician from New York who served in the United States House of Representatives from New York's 1st congressional district as a member of the Republican Party.

Felix Grucci
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 1st district
In office
January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2003
Preceded byMichael Forbes
Succeeded byTim Bishop
Brookhaven, New York Town Supervisor
In office
1996–2000
Preceded byJohn LaMura
Succeeded byJohn J. LaValle
Member of the Brookhaven, New York Town Board
In office
January 5, 1993 – 1996
Preceded byJohn Powell
Personal details
Born (1951-11-25) November 25, 1951
Brookhaven, New York, United States
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMadeleine Grucci
Children2

Early life

Grucci was born on November 25, 1951, in Brookhaven, New York, to Felix James Grucci Sr. and Concetta DiDio. In 1970, he graduated from Bellport High School. After graduating from high school he started working for his family's business, Fireworks by Grucci.[3][4]

Career

Politics

From 1988 to 1991, Grucci served on the Suffolk County planning commission.[5][3]

In 1990, he received the Republican nomination to run in a special election for a seat in the New York State Assembly to replace John Powell, who had resigned after winning election to the Brookhaven Town Board. In the election he was defeated by former Assemblyman William Bianchi.[6][7]

From 1991 to 1993, Grucci served as the chairman of Brookhaven's Zoning Board of Appeals. On January 5, 1993, he was appointed to the Brookhaven Town Board to fill the vacancy created by John Powell after he accepted a position on the Suffolk County Board of Elections.[8] In 1995, he defeated Democratic nominee Thomas Oberle to win election as Brookhaven Town Supervisor.[9][5][3]

2000

On March 20, 2000, Grucci announced that he would run for the Republican nomination in New York's 1st congressional district.[10] Incumbent Representative Michael Forbes, who had switched his political affiliation from Republican to Democratic, was defeated in the Democratic primary by Regina Seltzer.[11][12] In the general election Grucci defeated Seltzer with 133,020 votes to her 97,299.[13]

During the election Grucci was endorsed by Arizona Senator John McCain, Suffolk County Republican Chairman Tony Apollaro, Suffolk County Clerk Ed Romaine, Assembly-member Pat Accampora, Brookhaven Town Councilor John LaValle, Southold Town Councilor Bill Moore, and Southampton Village trustee Bill Manger.[14][15]

2002

During the 2002 congressional elections Grucci released a radio advertisement which stated that Tim Bishop had "turned his back" on rape victims at Southampton College. Grucci was criticized for the advertisement and Bishop filed a lawsuit to prevent the advertisement from being played.[16][17] Amy Walter stated that the advertisement was "a big turning point in this contest" as it was initially predicted that Grucci would easily win reelection.[18]

In the general election Bishop narrowly defeated Grucci with 84,276 votes to 81,524.[19]

Later life

In 2013, Grucci and his sister, Donna Grucci Butler, stepped down as presidents of Fireworks by Grucci and were succeeded by their nephew, Felix Grucci III.[20]

Political positions

On October 10, 2002, Grucci voted in favor of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002.[21]

Electoral history
2000 New York's 1st congressional district election[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Felix Grucci 111,003 46.33%
Right to Life Felix Grucci 8,746 3.65%
Conservative Felix Grucci 7,569 3.16%
Independence Felix Grucci 5,702 2.38%
Total Felix Grucci 133,020 55.52%
Democratic Regina Seltzer 97,299 40.61%
Working Families Michael Forbes (incumbent) 6,318 2.64%
Green William G. Holst 2,967 1.24%
Total votes 239,604 100.00%
Blank/scattering Void 29,574
2002 New York's 1st congressional district election[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tim Bishop 81,325 48.47%
Working Families Tim Bishop 2,951 1.76%
Total Tim Bishop 84,276 50.23%
Republican Felix Grucci (incumbent) 64,999 38.74%
Conservative Felix Grucci (incumbent) 6,116 3.65%
Right to Life Felix Grucci (incumbent) 5,887 3.51%
Independence Felix Grucci (incumbent) 4,522 2.70%
Total Felix Grucci (incumbent) 81,524 48.59%
Green Lorna Salzman 1,991 1.19%
Total votes 167,791 100.00%
Blank/scattering Void 10,739

References
  1. "Fuse Lit for Regional July 4 Extravaganza". Hartford Courant. April 10, 1981.
  2. "Felix James Grucci, Jr". Newsday. July 2, 1995.
  3. "GRUCCI, Jr., Felix J. (1951-)". Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  4. "High school to business". The Post-Star. November 26, 2000. p. 47. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Felix Grucci, Jr.'s Biography". Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  6. "Elections to fill 3 Assembly seats". Star Gazette. February 19, 1990. p. 10. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Winners of three state Assembly seats are death penalty supporters". The Journal News. February 21, 1990. p. 12. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Hempstead GOPers select Mondello aide". Daily News. January 6, 1993. p. 556. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Landslide surprise for Gaffney". Daily News. November 9, 1993. p. 177. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Fireworks king Grucci to run for Forbes seat". Daily News. March 21, 2000. p. 644. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "6 members of House win city primaries". Daily News. September 13, 2000. p. 383. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Forbes loses to former librarian". Democrat and Chronicle. September 20, 2000. p. 8. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "2000 election results" (PDF).
  14. "Brookhaven GOPer wins county nod". Daily News. January 31, 2000. p. 228. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "McCain ready to rumble for Rudy". Daily News. March 31, 2000. p. 7. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Polls determine party spending". The Ithaca Journal. October 28, 2002. p. 3. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Political ad court hearing rescheduled for Monday". The Post-Star. October 3, 2002. p. 11. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. "New York Congressional races could help shape Capitol Hill". The Post-Star. November 3, 2002. p. 6. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "2002 election results" (PDF).
  20. "Felix Grucci is new CEO at Grucci Inc". Newsday. January 19, 2013. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  21. "Iraq attack OK'd on Hill". Daily News. October 11, 2002. p. 8. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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