Mike Spano
{{short description|American politician}}
{{BLP sources|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Mike Spano
| image = Mike Spano in Yonkers Parade 2012.jpg
| caption = Spano at the 2012 St. Patrick's Day parade in Yonkers
| order = 42nd Mayor of Yonkers
| term_start = January 1, 2012
| predecessor = Phil Amicone
| state_assembly2 = New York
| birth_name = Michael Joseph Spano
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|04|22}}
| birth_place = Yonkers, New York, U.S.
| spouse = Mary Calvi
| children = 3
| residence = Yonkers, New York, U.S.
| party = Democratic (2007–present)
| otherparty = Republican (until 2007)
| website = {{URL| https://www.yonkersny.gov/government/mayor-s-office/about-mayor-mike-spano|Official website}}
{{URL| http://www.mayormikespano.com/|Campaign website}}
| state_assembly1 = New York
| state_assembly = New York
| office1 = Member of the New York State Assembly
| constituency1 = 83rd district (1992)
87th district (1995–2004)
93rd district (2007–2011)
| term_start1 = January 1, 1992
| term_end1 = December 31, 2011
| predecessor1 = Terence Zaleski
| successor1 = Shelley Mayer
| relatives = Nick Spano (brother)
Leonard Spano (father)
| 1blankname = Deputy
| 1namedata = Steve Levy
}}
Michael Joseph Spano{{cite web|url=https://www.theyonkersledger.com/politics/westchester-black-womens-political-caucus-yonkers-chapter-2023-new-year-event/2313/|title=Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus Yonkers Chapter 2023 New Year Event|last=Skipper|first=Kisha|work=The Yonkers Ledger|date=January 9, 2023|accessdate=December 14, 2023}} (born April 22, 1964) is an American politician who is the 42nd mayor of Yonkers, New York. He is a member of the Democratic Party. A former Republican, he served as a member of the New York State Assembly.
Biography
Born and raised in Yonkers, New York,Mark Lungariello (October 31, 2014). [http://www.wagmag.com/mike-spano-and-mary-calvi-find-the-time/ "Mike Spano and Mary Calvi find the time"]. Wag Magazine. retrieved December 11, 2014 Spano is the ninth of sixteen children born to Josephine and Leonard Spano (1930–2019).{{cite news |author=Thomas C. Zambito |date=February 10, 2019 |title=Leonard Spano, patriarch of Westchester County blue-collar political dynasty, dies |newspaper=The Journal News |url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/2019/02/10/leonard-spano-political-dynasty-county-clerk/2829976002/}}Kirk Semple (July 25, 2004). [https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/25/nyregion/spano-says-he-heeds-siren-call-of-family-life.html "Spano Says He Heeds Siren Call of Family Life"]. The New York Times Spano was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 1992 as the assembly's youngest member. Due to the state's reapportionment plan, his seat was eliminated later that same year.{{Cite news|agency=Associated Press|date=1992-02-19|title=Republican Wins Assembly Seat in Yonkers|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/19/nyregion/republican-wins-assembly-seat-in-yonkers.html|access-date=2021-03-27|issn=0362-4331}} However, he ran again in 1994 and continued to serve in the New York State Assembly for nearly a decade until he chose not to run for re-election.{{Cite web |date=2016-04-22 |title=Happy Birthday To Yonkers' Mike Spano |url=https://dailyvoice.com/new-york/yonkers/neighbors/happy-birthday-to-yonkers-mike-spano/444733/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Yonkers Daily Voice |language=en}}
Within the private sector, Spano worked for a New York governmental relations firm and served on the Board of Directors for Leake and Watts Services.{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Mike_Spano|title=Mike Spano|website=Ballotpedia|language=en|access-date=2020-04-19}} After his children became school-aged, he decided to return to public service and ran successfully once again for the State Assembly where he represented the people of Yonkers in the 93rd Assembly District.
On November 8, 2011, Spano was elected as mayor of the City of Yonkers, New York.{{Cite web|date=November 9, 2011|title=Democrat Mike Spano claims victory in Yonkers mayoral race|url=https://westchester.news12.com/democrat-mike-spano-claims-victory-in-yonkers-mayoral-race-34891046|access-date=2020-10-20|website=News 12 - Westchester}} During his tenure, Spano has passed two consecutive bipartisan budgets that included historic investment in education and kept taxes within the New York State property tax cap.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yonkerstribune.com/2017/04/yonkers-mayor-mike-spano-proposes-fiscal-year-2018-executive-budget|title=Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano Proposes Fiscal Year 2018 Executive Budget|date=2017-04-14|website=Yonkers Tribune|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-19}}
He was reelected to a second term as mayor in 2015.Ernie Garcia (November 3, 2015). [http://www.lohud.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/11/03/yonkers-mayors-race/74891964/ "Spano wins another term as Yonkers mayor"]. The Journal News. retrieved December 16, 2017
In 2019, Spano was reelected to a third term as mayor following a revision in the city charter which overturned term limits by the Yonkers City Council.{{Cite web |date=2019-11-05 |title=Election 2019: Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano wins third term in landslide |url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/11/05/election-2019-westchester-yonkers-mike-spano-mario-degiorgio/4171081002/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=lohud.com}} Spano had previously said he would not seek a third term, stating, "even if they did overturn term limits, as much as I love being mayor, I wouldn’t seek a third term."{{Cite web|url=https://yonkersvoice.com/is-mayor-mike-spano-running-for-a-3rd-term/|title = Is Mayor Mike Spano running for a 3rd Term?|date = 15 June 2017}}
In 2022, the Yonkers City Council voted to extend term limits for the second time for Mayor Spano. Citizens of Yonkers challenged the extension in New York State court, but the change in local law was upheld.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-24 |title=Appeals Court Rules Against Voters Wanting Term Limits Referendum |url=https://www.theyonkersledger.com/politics/appeals-court-rules-against-voters-wanting-term-limits-referendum/3561/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=The Yonkers Ledger |language=en-US}}
In May 2023, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office received a letter calling for an ethics investigation into alleged "nepotism, abuse of taxpayer dollars, corruption and abuse of power" under Spano's administration.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/yonkers-mayor-mike-spano-faces-calls-for-ethics-investigation/|title = Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano faces calls for ethics investigation into "nepotism, abuse of taxpayer dollars, corruption and abuse of power"|date = 5 May 2023}} The letter was prompted by media reports regarding Spano family members employed by the City of Yonkers. As of April 27, 2023, it was reported that at least 15 members of the Spano family were employed by the City of Yonkers, with the family collectively earning "at least $2 million annually" from the City.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theyonkersledger.com/opinion/a-comment-on-ethics-regarding-the-spano-family-in-government/3293/|title = A Comment on Ethics Regarding the Spano Family in Government|date = 27 April 2023}} Spano has denied the allegations.{{Cite web |date=5 May 2023 |title=Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano faces calls for ethics investigation into "nepotism, abuse of taxpayer dollars, corruption and abuse of power" |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/yonkers-mayor-mike-spano-faces-calls-for-ethics-investigation/ |website=CBS News}}
Spano is also a member of numerous community organizations such as the Yonkers Chamber of Commerce, Access Westchester, Exchange Club of Yonkers, Sons of Italy, and an Honorary Member (non-veteran) of the Armando Rauso AMVETS Post.{{Cite web |date=2013-06-20 |title=Mike Spano |url=https://goodnewsplanet.com/mike-spano/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Good News! |language=en-US}} He is also a former member of the board of directors of Westchester School for Special Children and donor to the Luis Pani foundation.
Spano appeared on the TV show Impractical Jokers during James "Murr" Murray's punishment that took place at Yonkers City Hall in the episode "Speech Impediment".{{Cite web |date=2018-08-02 |title=Yonkers mayor Mike Spano to appear on Impractical Jokers |url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/yonkers/2018/08/02/yonkers-mayor-mike-spano-appear-impractical-jokers-tonight/889762002/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=lohud.com}}
A lifelong Yonkers resident, Spano has been married to CBS newscaster Mary Calvi since 1996 and has three children.{{Cite news |date=1996-02-16 |title=Wedding Announcement of Michael Spano and Mary Calvi |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-statesman-wedding-announcemen/79010779/ |access-date=2024-02-19 |work=The Herald Statesman |pages=12}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.mikespano.com/}}
- http://www.yonkersny.gov/
- https://www.facebook.com/MayorMikeSpano/
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-ny-hs}}
{{succession box|title=Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 83rd district|before=Terence M. Zaleski|years=1992|after=Larry Seabrook }}
{{succession box|title=Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 87th district|before=Cecile D. Singer|years=1995–2002|after=J. Gary Pretlow }}
{{succession box|title=Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 93rd district|before=Samuel Colman|years=2003–2004|after=Louis Mosiello }}
{{succession box|title=Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 93rd district|before=Louis Mosiello|years=2007–2011|after=Shelley Mayer }}
{{s-off}}
{{succession box|title=Member of the Westchester County Board of Legislators
from the 14th district|before=Leonard Spano|years=1994|after=Bernice Spreckman }}
{{succession box|title=Mayor of Yonkers, New York|before=Phil Amicone|years=2012–present|after=Incumbent }}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spano, Mike}}
Category:Members of the New York State Assembly
Category:Mayors of Yonkers, New York
Category:New York (state) Republicans
Category:New York (state) Democrats
Category:Politicians from Westchester County, New York
Category:20th-century members of the New York State Legislature
Category:21st-century mayors of places in New York (state)
Category:21st-century members of the New York State Legislature