Felix Grucci
{{Short description|American politician (born 1951)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Felix Grucci
| image = Felix Grucci.jpg
| state = New York
| district = 1st
| term_start = January 3, 2001
| term_end = January 3, 2003
| preceded = Michael Forbes
| succeeded = Tim Bishop
| office1 = Brookhaven, New York Town Supervisor
| term_start1 = 1996
| term_end1 = 2000
| predecessor1 = John LaMura
| successor1 = John J. LaValle
| office2 = Member of the Brookhaven, New York Town Board
| term_start2 = January 5, 1993
| term_end2 = 1996
| predecessor2 = John Powell
| successor2 =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1951|11|25}}
| birth_place = Brookhaven, New York, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| spouse = Madeleine Grucci
| children = 2
| alma_mater =
| signature =
}}
Felix James Grucci Jr.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant/129411695/|title=Fuse Lit for Regional July 4 Extravaganza|work=Hartford Courant|date=April 10, 1981}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition/129411715/|title=Felix James Grucci, Jr.|work=Newsday|date=July 2, 1995}} (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.
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.{{Cite news |title=GRUCCI, Jr., Felix J. (1951-) |url=https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=G000547 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200630204544/https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=G000547 |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |access-date=July 1, 2020 }}{{Cite news |date=November 26, 2000 |title=High school to business |page=47 |work=The Post-Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54482855/the-post-star/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200630230553/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54482855/the-post-star/ |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=July 1, 2020 }}
Career
=Politics=
From 1988 to 1991, Grucci served on the Suffolk County planning commission.
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.{{Cite news |date=February 19, 1990 |title=Elections to fill 3 Assembly seats |page=10 |work=Star Gazette |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54477009/star-gazette/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200630213454/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54477009/star-gazette/ |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=July 1, 2020 }}{{Cite news |date=February 21, 1990 |title=Winners of three state Assembly seats are death penalty supporters |page=12 |work=The Journal News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54477027/the-journal-news/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200630213458/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54477027/the-journal-news/ |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=July 1, 2020 }}
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.{{Cite news |date=January 6, 1993 |title=Hempstead GOPers select Mondello aide |page=556 |work=Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54477610/daily-news/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200630214804/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54477610/daily-news/ |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=July 1, 2020 }} In 1995, he defeated Democratic nominee Thomas Oberle to win election as Brookhaven Town Supervisor.{{Cite news |date=November 9, 1993 |title=Landslide surprise for Gaffney |page=177 |work=Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54478388/daily-news/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200630215252/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54478388/daily-news/ |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=July 1, 2020 }}{{Cite news |title=Felix Grucci, Jr.'s Biography |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/55392/felix-grucci-jr |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200630204545/https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/55392/felix-grucci-jr |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |access-date=July 1, 2020 }}
=U.S. House of Representatives=
==2000==
On March 20, 2000, Grucci announced that he would run for the Republican nomination in New York's 1st congressional district.{{Cite news |date=March 21, 2000 |title=Fireworks king Grucci to run for Forbes seat |page=644 |work=Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54480173/daily-news/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200630221848/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54480173/daily-news/ |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=July 1, 2020 }} Incumbent Representative Michael Forbes, who had switched his political affiliation from Republican to Democratic, was defeated in the Democratic primary by Regina Seltzer.{{Cite news |date=September 13, 2000 |title=6 members of House win city primaries |page=383 |work=Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54482400/daily-news/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200630225647/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54482400/daily-news/ |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=July 1, 2020 }}{{Cite news |date=September 20, 2000 |title=Forbes loses to former librarian |page=8 |work=Democrat and Chronicle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54482410/democrat-and-chronicle/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200630225651/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54482410/democrat-and-chronicle/ |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=July 1, 2020 }} In the general election Grucci defeated Seltzer with 133,020 votes to her 97,299.{{Cite news |title=2000 election results |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2000election.pdf}}
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.{{Cite news |date=January 31, 2000 |title=Brookhaven GOPer wins county nod |page=228 |work=Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54479961/daily-news/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200630221616/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54479961/daily-news/ |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=July 1, 2020 }}{{Cite news |date=March 31, 2000 |title=McCain ready to rumble for Rudy |page=7 |work=Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54481925/daily-news/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200630224853/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54481925/daily-news/ |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=July 1, 2020 }}
==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.{{Cite news |date=October 28, 2002 |title=Polls determine party spending |page=3 |work=The Ithaca Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54484114/the-ithaca-journal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200630232919/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54484114/the-ithaca-journal/ |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=July 1, 2020 }}{{Cite news |date=October 3, 2002 |title=Political ad court hearing rescheduled for Monday |page=11 |work=The Post-Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54484450/the-post-star/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200630233121/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54484450/the-post-star/ |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=July 1, 2020 }} 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.{{Cite news |date=November 3, 2002 |title=New York Congressional races could help shape Capitol Hill |page=6 |work=The Post-Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54484691/the-post-star/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200630233520/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54484691/the-post-star/ |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=July 1, 2020 }}
In the general election Bishop narrowly defeated Grucci with 84,276 votes to 81,524.{{Cite news |title=2002 election results |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2002election.pdf}}
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.{{Cite news |date=January 19, 2013 |title=Felix Grucci is new CEO at Grucci Inc. |work=Newsday |url=https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/felix-grucci-is-new-ceo-at-grucci-inc-1.4473008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200701000904/https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/felix-grucci-is-new-ceo-at-grucci-inc-1.4473008 |archive-date=July 1, 2020 |access-date=July 1, 2020 }}
Political positions
On October 10, 2002, Grucci voted in favor of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002.{{Cite news |date=October 11, 2002 |title=Iraq attack OK'd on Hill |page=8 |work=Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54486522/daily-news/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200701000536/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54486522/daily-news/ |archive-date=July 1, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=July 1, 2020 }}
Electoral history
{{Election box begin no change|title = 2000 New York's 1st congressional district election}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Felix Grucci
|votes = 111,003
|percentage = 46.33%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = New York State Right to Life Party
|candidate = Felix Grucci
|votes = 8,746
|percentage = 3.65%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Conservative Party of New York State
|candidate = Felix Grucci
|votes = 7,569
|percentage = 3.16%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Independence Party of New York
|candidate = Felix Grucci
|votes = 5,702
|percentage = 2.38%
}}
{{Election box winning candidate no change
|party = Total
|candidate = Felix Grucci
|votes = 133,020
|percentage = 55.52%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Regina Seltzer
|votes = 97,299
|percentage = 40.61%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Working Families Party
|candidate = Michael Forbes (incumbent)
|votes = 6,318
|percentage = 2.64%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Green Party of the United States
|candidate = William G. Holst
|votes = 2,967
|percentage = 1.24%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 239,604
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
|party = Blank/scattering
|candidate = Void
|votes = 29,574
|percentage =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title = 2002 New York's 1st congressional district election}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Tim Bishop
|votes = 81,325
|percentage = 48.47%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Working Families Party
|candidate = Tim Bishop
|votes = 2,951
|percentage = 1.76%
|change =
}}
{{Election box winning candidate no change
|party = Total
|candidate = Tim Bishop
|votes = 84,276
|percentage = 50.23%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Felix Grucci (incumbent)
|votes = 64,999
|percentage = 38.74%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Conservative Party of New York State
|candidate = Felix Grucci (incumbent)
|votes = 6,116
|percentage = 3.65%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = New York State Right to Life Party
|candidate = Felix Grucci (incumbent)
|votes = 5,887
|percentage = 3.51%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Independence Party of New York
|candidate = Felix Grucci (incumbent)
|votes = 4,522
|percentage = 2.70%
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
|party = Total
|candidate = Felix Grucci (incumbent)
|votes = 81,524
|percentage = 48.59%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Green Party of the United States
|candidate = Lorna Salzman
|votes = 1,991
|percentage = 1.19%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 167,791
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
|party = Blank/scattering
|candidate = Void
|votes = 10,739
|percentage =
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{CongBio|G000547}}
- {{C-SPAN|85215}}
{{S-start}}
{{S-par|us-hs}}
{{US House succession box |
state=New York |
district=1 |
district_ord=1st |
before=Michael Forbes|
after=Tim Bishop|
years=2001–2003
}}
{{S-off}}
{{Succession box|title=Supervisor of Brookhaven, New York|years=1995–2000 |before=John LaMura |after=John J. La Valle}}
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=Dan Frisa|as=Former US Representative}}
{{s-ttl|title=Order of precedence of the United States
{{small|as Former US Representative}}|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=Chris Lee|as=Former US Representative}}
{{S-end}}
{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 107th United States Congress |state=New York}}
{{USCongRep/NY/107}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grucci, Felix}}
Category:20th-century New York (state) politicians
Category:People from East Patchogue, New York
Category:American businesspeople
Category:American people of Italian descent
Category:Town supervisors in New York (state)
Category:21st-century New York (state) politicians
Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives