Dean Skelos
Dean George Skelos (born February 16, 1948) is an American former politician from Long Island, New York.
Dean Skelos | |
|---|---|
Skelos in 2012 | |
| Majority Leader of the New York State Senate | |
| In office January 1, 2011 – May 11, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Pedro Espada Jr. |
| Succeeded by | John J. Flanagan |
| In office June 24, 2008 – December 31, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph Bruno |
| Succeeded by | Malcolm Smith |
| Acting Lieutenant Governor of New York | |
| In office June 24, 2008 – December 31, 2008 | |
| Governor | David Paterson |
| Preceded by | Joseph Bruno (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Malcolm Smith (acting) |
| Member of the New York State Senate from the 9th district | |
| In office January 1, 1985 – December 11, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Carol Berman |
| Succeeded by | Todd Kaminsky |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 19th district | |
| In office January 1, 1981 – December 31, 1982 | |
| Preceded by | Raymond J. McGrath |
| Succeeded by | Armand D'Amato |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Dean George Skelos February 16, 1948 Rockville Centre, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Gail Skelos |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | Washington College (BA) Fordham University (JD) |
A Republican, Skelos served in the New York State Assembly and later represented the Ninth District in the New York State Senate from 1985 through 2015. He served as Senate Majority Leader in 2008 and again from 2011 to 2015.
Skelos forfeited his Senate seat when he was convicted on federal corruption charges in 2015. In 2017, his conviction was overturned following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in McDonnell v. United States. His retrial resulted in a second conviction on July 17, 2018. Skelos was sentenced to four years and three months in prison, and he began his prison term in January 2019. In April 2020, Skelos tested positive for COVID-19 and was released from prison to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.