Ryan Karben

Ryan Scott Karben is an American attorney and former politician from the state of New York. A Democrat, Karben represented the state's 95th Assembly District from 2003 to 2006.

Ryan Scott Karben
Legislator; Rockland County Legislature
In office
1997–2002
ConstituencyRamapo, New York
Assemblyman; New York State Assembly
In office
2003 – May 18, 2006
Preceded bySamuel Colman (Assembly seat from 1984-2002)
Succeeded byEllen Jaffee
Constituency95th Assembly District
Village Attorney - Spring Valley, New York
In office
2010–2010
ConstituencySpring Valley, New York
Personal details
Born (1974-09-29) September 29, 1974
Bronx, NY
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseLauren C. Bekritsky
Residence(s)Monsey, New York
OccupationLawyer

Education and family

Karben was born in the borough of the Bronx on September 29, 1974. In 1979, his family moved to Spring Valley, New York. Karben was a student at the Frisch School in Paramus, New Jersey.[1] He attended Yeshiva University as a Max Stern Distinguished Scholar and graduated magna cum laude in 1996 with a B.A. in English. He then attended the Columbia Law School as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, graduating in 1999.

Karben married Lauren C. Bekritsky, his high school sweetheart, in June 1996. The Karbens have three daughters. Karben is an Orthodox Jew.[2]

Assembly career

In 1995, Karben lost his initial bid to become county legislator at the age of 21 when he finished fourth in a race for three open positions. In his concession speech at the Holiday Inn in Suffern, New York, Karben assured his supporters that he considered the election a positive experience and that he would be back.

In 1997, Karben was elected to represent Ramapo in the Rockland County Legislature. He was the youngest county lawmaker in the State of New York at that time. Karben was selected as majority leader of the Rockland County Legislature in 2001–2002.

In November 2002, Karben was elected to the New York State Assembly in Albany to represent the 95th district, which includes the Town of Orangetown and parts of the Town of Ramapo in Rockland County. Karben served on the Energy Committee and led an investigation of Consolidated Edison in 2004. Karben also pushed for tougher sex-offender tracking laws and environmental cleanups at several Rockland County sites.

Karben was involved in a fundraising controversy involving Charles Kushner, a New Jersey developer who served a prison sentence for hiring prostitutes in an attempt to influence potential witnesses in a New Jersey investigation. Kushner had contributed over $40,000 to Karben's campaign, and Karben contributed $2,500 to charity after revelations about Kushner surfaced.[3]

Resignation

On May 18, 2006, Karben unexpectedly announced his resignation from the Assembly. Karben had reportedly been the subject of an internal investigation into alleged sexual advances toward staffers.[4] According to The New York Times, sources stated that he had brought three staffers to his Albany residence and watched pornography with them; Karben allegedly stepped down to avoid facing a formal investigation.[2] No formal complaints against Karben were ever filed.[5] Karben's statement regarding his resignation made no reference to the alleged internal inquiry.[6]

Subsequently, Karben left his position as a partner in the Spring Valley law firm of Kurtzman, Matera, Scuderi, Gurock, and Karben.[7]

Post-Assembly career

Following his resignation, Karben started his own law firm, the Law Office of Ryan Karben, based at his home in Monsey.[8] In September 2007, Karben was named Managing Director of Fleishman-Hillard Government Relations, a national political consulting and lobbying firm.[5] Karben also held the position of Village Attorney of Spring Valley, New York, but was fired by the village mayor in 2010 for dereliction of duty.[9]

References
  1. Park, Pearl J. (October 16, 1991). "He Learns Political Science from Firsthand Experience—Frisch Senior is Lobbyist". Bergen Record. Frisch School senior Ryan Karben has strong political convictions -- and an equally strong desire to advocate them.
  2. Foderaro, Lisa W.; Medina, Jennifer (May 27, 2006). "Downfall of a Young and Ambitious Assemblyman Stuns His Constituents (Published 2006)". The New York Times.
  3. Netter, Sarah; Steve Lieberman (May 19, 2006). "Karben's resignation shocks, raises questions". The Journal News. Retrieved 2006-05-23. Alt URL
  4. Mahoney, Joe; Ben Smith (May 19, 2006). "Pol in sex probe quits". New York Daily News. p. 16. Retrieved 2006-05-23.
  5. Benjamin, Elizabeth (September 17, 2007). "Pol plans to launch 3rd party for '08 presidential election". Metro News. New York Daily News. p. 12. Retrieved 2007-10-07. Former Assemblyman Ryan Karben, a Rockland County Democrat, confirmed he is poised to become a managing director in October at Fleishman-Hillard Government Relations, which he called "a terrific firm with national reach". ... Karben, 32, was an ambitious, rising political star when he abruptly resigned from his Assembly seat in May 2006 amid allegations that he had made sexual advances toward male legislative staffers and interns. No formal complaints were ever filed.
  6. "Ryan Karben" (Press release). May 18, 2006.
  7. Gallagher, Jay; James Walsh (May 23, 2006). "Karben exits Spring Valley law firm, stays out of view". The Journal News. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2006-05-23.
  8. "Law Office of Ryan Scott Karben". Ryan Karben. 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-05.
  9. Lieberman, Steve (October 26, 2010). "Karben fired as Spring Valley attorney". Rockland Journal News.
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