Thomas W. Libous

Thomas W. Libous (April 14, 1953 – May 3, 2016) was an American politician who served as New York State Senator for the 52nd Senate District, representing the counties of Broome, Tioga, Chenango and Delaware.

Thomas W. Libous
Member of the New York State Senate
In office
January 4, 1989 – July 22, 2015
Preceded byWarren M. Anderson
Succeeded byFred Akshar
Constituency51st district (1989–2010)
52nd district (2011–2013)
Personal details
Born(1953-04-16)April 16, 1953
Johnson City, New York, U.S.
DiedMay 3, 2016(2016-05-03) (aged 63)
Endicott, New York
Political partyRepublican
SpouseFrances Libous
ChildrenMatthew
Nicholas
Alma materState University of New York,
Broome
State University of New York,
Utica

A Republican, Libous was first elected to the State Senate in 1988. He won a total of 14 terms in the Senate, eventually rising to the position of Deputy Majority Leader. An influential Albany dealmaker, Libous was notable for his advocacy for New York's Southern Tier. On July 22, 2015, Libous forfeited his Senate seat when he was found guilty of lying to the FBI. His conviction was vacated following his death.

Early life, education, and early career

Libous was president of his senior class at Johnson City High School.[1] At a young age, he worked at his family's grocery store in Binghamton.[2] Libous graduated from Broome Community College in 1973 and from the State University of New York at Utica in 1975, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Finance with honors.[3] He worked on political campaigns for his uncle, Alfred Libous, who served as Mayor of Binghamton.[1]

Libous, a Republican, was elected to the Binghamton City Council in 1983 and won re-election in 1987.[1]

New York State Senate career

After having served on the Binghamton City Council,[2] Libous was first elected to the New York State Senate in 1988.[4] Libous was re-elected 13 times.[5] He succeeded Senator Warren M. Anderson, who had served as Senate Majority Leader.[4]

Libous was a powerful presence in Albany, and was known for his advocacy for New York's Southern Tier.[1][6] He was also known for his ability to work with members of both parties and for his strong working relationship with Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo.[2] In 2008, Libous rose to the position of Deputy Majority Leader.[1] In 2009, he played a major role in a parliamentary coup[7] when Republicans unsuccessfully attempted to take control of the Senate with the help of two dissident Democrats.[8] Also in 2009, he became chair of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee; in that capacity, he helped the Republicans retake the Senate majority the following year.[1] in 2011, Libous voted against allowing same-sex marriage in New York during a Senate roll-call vote on the Marriage Equality Act, which narrowly passed 33-29.,[9][10] and also voted against the 2013 gun control law known as the New York SAFE Act.[6] Libous was an outspoken supporter of hydrofracking.[1]

In November 2014, despite having been indicted earlier in the year, Libous was re-elected for a fourteenth Senate term[5] and remained Deputy Majority Leader.[11] Libous forfeited his Senate seat when he was found guilty of lying to the FBI on July 22, 2015.[4][12]

Community projects and programs

Libous helped provide funding for an ice rink at Broome Community College and an events center at Binghamton University. He also supported the Ottawa Senators' American Hockey League affiliate's 2002 move to Binghamton, facilitating the provision of funding for arena renovations on multiple occasions.[1]

In 1998, Libous founded the Student Community Service Awards (SCSA) through a partnership with WBNG-TV and Broome-Tioga BOCES. Each year, the SCSA program awarded scholarships to high school seniors based on community volunteer work.[13]

One of Libous's final acts as Senator was to secure over $4 million in grant funds to construct the new shared office for the Broome County Industrial Development Agency, Broome County Chamber of Commerce, and related groups.[14]

In 2012, Libous was highlighted in a corruption trial for his role in attempting to help his son, Matthew, receive a job at Santangelo, Randazzo & Mangone, a law firm in Westchester County. As a result, an investigation was started,[15] and on July 1, 2014, he was indicted on charges of lying to the FBI regarding the circumstances of his son's employment at the law firm.[16][17]

Matthew Libous was charged with six counts of tax fraud in a related investigation.[18][19] In January 2015, Matthew Libous was convicted on three counts of federal tax fraud by judge Vincent L. Briccetti of the Southern District of New York in a bench trial,[20] and in May 2015 he was sentenced to six months in prison.[21]

Thomas Libous was tried in July 2015.[22] On July 22, 2015, after approximately six hours of jury deliberations, Libous was convicted of one count of lying to the F.B.I.; because of the felony conviction, he forfeited his Senate seat.[23] On November 24, 2015, U.S. District Judge Vincent Briccetti sentenced him to six months of house arrest, two years of probation and a $50,000 fine. Libous was not sentenced to jail time due to his terminal cancer.[24] Libous appealed the conviction. On May 30, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit vacated his conviction and ordered the return of the fine to his estate because Libous had been appealing the conviction at the time of his death.[25][26]

Personal life

Libous lived in Binghamton with his wife, Frances, who served as Vice Chair of the Workers Compensation Board.[27] The couple had two sons, Matthew and Nicholas.[2]

In 2009, Libous was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer.[1] He underwent treatment while still serving as State Senator. In 2010, he founded "I Turned Pro" to encourage men over age 50 to talk to their doctors about the risks of prostate cancer.[28]

Libous died of cancer at a hospice facility in Endicott, New York, on May 3, 2016.[29][30] His uncle, former Binghamton Mayor Al Libous, died in June 2016 at the age of 88.[31]

References
  1. Roby, John (May 3, 2016). "A TOWERING LEGACY: Thomas Libous dies at 63". PressConnects.com. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  2. McKinley, Jesse (May 4, 2016). "Thomas Libous, Powerful New York Senator Felled by Scandal, Dies at 63". The New York Times.
  3. "Senator Tom Libous". NY State Senate. February 15, 2010.
  4. "Sen. Tom Libous found guilty". Pressconnects.com. July 23, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  5. Norris, Anna (November 5, 2014). "Libous secures 14th term as senator | WBNG-TV: News, Sports and Weather Binghamton, New York | Local". Wbng.com. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  6. "A TOWERING LEGACY: Thomas Libous dies at 63". Pressconnects.
  7. Karlin, Rick (March 24, 2017). "From 2009 Senate coup, Maziarz may be the last man standing". Times Union.
  8. "In New York, Senate "Coup" Takes Down Dems". www.cbsnews.com.
  9. Johnston, Garth. "FINALLY: NY State Senate Passes Gay Marriage". Gothamist. Archived from the original on May 18, 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  10. "Gov. Cuomo signs same-sex marriage bill". longisland.news12.com.
  11. "Libous Will Remain Deputy Leader". Nystateofpolitics.com. May 11, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  12. Thomas Kaplan,Thomas Libous, New York State Senator, Is Convicted of Lying to F.B.I., New York Times, July 23, 2015.
  13. "Student Community Service Awards". WBNG News. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  14. "Five South College Drive Opens as a One-Stop Economic and Business Development Center for Broome County".
  15. Hakim, Danny (May 15, 2012). "Ethics Panel Opens Inquiry Into No. 2 Leader in State Senate". The New York Times. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  16. Rashbaum, William K.; Craig, Susanne; Kaplan, Thomas (July 2014). "State Senator Libous Indicted on Charges of Lying to F.B.I." The New York Times. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  17. "Indictment - United States of America vs. Thomas Libous" (PDF). justice.gov. United States Department of Justice. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  18. Kaplan, Thomas; Rashbaum, William K. (July 2, 2014). "G.O.P. Power Broker in Albany Accused of Lying to F.B.I. - State Senator Thomas Libous Is Indicted on Federal Charges". New York Times. p. A1. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  19. "Indictment - United States of America vs. Matthew Libous" (PDF). justice.gov. United States Department of Justice. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  20. Fitzsimmons, Emma G. (January 27, 2015). "Son of Indicted New York State Senator Is Found Guilty in Tax Case". New York Times. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  21. Kaplan, Thomas (May 19, 2015). "Son of Indicted New York State Senator Receives 6-Month Sentence". New York Times. p. A22. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  22. Kaplan, Thomas (July 12, 2015). "Trial to Begin for Thomas Libous, New York Senator Whose Son Was Convicted". New York Times. p. A14. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  23. Kaplan, Thomas (July 23, 2015). "Thomas Libous, New York State Senator, Is Convicted of Lying to F.B.I." New York Times. p. A20. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  24. "Libous: 6 months house arrest, 2 years probation, $50K fine". Pressconnects.com. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  25. "USA v. Libous".
  26. Campbell, Jon (May 30, 2017). "Ex-Sen. Tom Libous' Conviction Vacated, $50K Fine Overturned". Lohud.
  27. Vielkind, Jimmy. "Search warrant targets Frances Libous, wife of G.O.P. senator". Politico PRO.
  28. "Libous Undergoing Second Round of Chemotherapy". WICZ News. September 16, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  29. McKinley, Jesse (May 4, 2016). "Former Binghamton Mayor Al Libous dies". New York Times. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  30. "Remembering Tom Libous: Former NYS Senator loses battle with cancer | WBNG-TV: News, Sports and Weather Binghamton, New York | Local". Archived from the original on May 4, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  31. Platsky, Jeff (June 30, 2016). "Former Binghamton Mayor Al Libous dies". Press & Sun-Bulletin. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
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