Richard S. Ruggiero
{{Short description|American politician}}
Richard Salvador Ruggiero (September 20, 1944 – July 24, 2014) was an American politician from New York.
Life
He was born on September 20, 1944, in Utica, Oneida County, New York the son of Thomas J. Ruggiero and Theresa F. (Passalacqua) Ruggiero. He attended Utica Free Academy. He graduated with a B.A. in English from Niagara University in 1966. He also attended post-graduate courses at Colgate University and Syracuse University. Then he taught school in Utica.[https://books.google.com/books?id=nGOIAAAAMAAJ&q=red+book+richard+ruggiero+born New York Red Book] (1985–1986; pg. 270) On July 2, 1966, he married Janis E. Ziolkowski. They had no children.
He entered politics as a Democrat, and was a member of the Utica Common Council (3rd Ward) from 1978 to 1980.[http://www.fultonhistory.com/Process%20small/Newspapers/Utica%20NY%20Daily%20Press/Utica%20NY%20Daily%20Press%201986.pdf/Utica%20NY%20Daily%20Press%201986%20-%200827.pdf Ruggiero began political career on Utica Common Council] in the Daily Press, of Utica, on February 1, 1986 He was a member of the New York State Assembly (116th D.) from 1981 to 1986, sitting in the 184th, 185th and 186th New York State Legislatures.
On January 31, 1986, Ruggiero was arrested and charged in Oneida County Court with one count of sexual abuse and two counts of attempted sexual abuse.[http://fultonhistory.com/newspaper%202/Utica%20NY%20Daily%20Observer/Utica%20NY%20Observer%201986%20pdf/Utica%20NY%20Observer%201986%20-%201010.pdf Ruggiero faces sex charges] in the Observer-Dispatch, of Utica, on January 31, 1986 On March 21, 1986, he pleaded guilty to one count of attempted sexual abuse, a felony.[https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/22/nyregion/the-region-legislator-admits-guilt-in-sex-case.html Legislator Admits Guilt in Sex Case] in the New York Times on March 22, 1986[http://fultonhistory.com] | January 31.19S6 | Ruggiero faces sex charges | Assemblyman accused of sexual abuse in Jan. 3 incident involving teen-age girl | AP | [http://fultonhistory.com/newspaper%202/Utica%20NY%20Daily%20Observer/Utica%20NY%20Observer%201986%20pdf/Utica%20NY%20Observer%201986%20-%201010.pdf] The conviction vacated his Assembly seat.
Afterwards he moved to Hamburg, Erie County, New York.
He died on July 24, 2014.[http://www.tributes.com/obituary/show/Richard-Salvador-Ruggiero-101558116 Richard Salvador Ruggiero] at Tributes.com
References
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{{succession box | before = Nicholas J. Calogero | title = New York State Assembly
116th District | years = 1981–1986 | after = Ralph J. Eannace Jr.}}
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Category:Politicians from Utica, New York
Category:People from Hamburg, New York
Category:Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly
Category:Niagara University alumni
Category:Colgate University alumni
Category:Syracuse University alumni
Category:New York (state) politicians convicted of crimes
Category:20th-century members of the New York State Legislature