Robert Smullen
{{Short description|American politician (born 1968)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Robert J. Smullen
| image name =
| state_assembly = New York
| district = 118th
| term_start = January 9, 2019
| term_end =
| predecessor = Marc W. Butler
| successor =
| party = Republican
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|07|29}}
| birth_place = Johnstown, New York
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater =
| profession =
| spouse = Megan
| children =
| education = {{Plainlist|
- The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina {{Small|(BA)}}
- Georgetown University {{Small|(MA)}}
- Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy {{Small|(MS)}}
}}
| residence = Gloversville, New York, U.S.
| website = {{URL|https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Robert-Smullen/|Official website}}
| image =
|signature=Robert Smullin Signature.png
}}
Robert J. Smullen (born July 29, 1968) is an American politician from the state of New York. A Republican, Smullen has represented the 118th district of the New York State Assembly, covering parts of the North Country and Mohawk Valley, since 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Robert-Smullen/|title=Assemblyman Robert Smullen|publisher=New York State Assembly|access-date=February 8, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Robert_Smullen|title=Robert Smullen|publisher=Ballotpedia|access-date=February 8, 2020}}
Career
Smullen served 24 years with the United States Marine Corps, retiring in 2015 at the rank of colonel. He was a White House Fellow in the Office of the Secretary of Energy in 2003 and 2004, and more recently worked as the executive director of the Hudson River–Black River Regulating District.{{cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/185062/robert-smullen|title=Robert Smullen's Biography |publisher=VoteSmart |access-date=February 8, 2020}}
=New York State Assembly=
In April 2018, after longtime Republican Assemblyman Marc W. Butler announced his retirement, Smullen launched his campaign for the 118th Assembly district.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timestelegram.com/news/20180411/robert-smullen-announces-bid-for-118th-assembly-district-seat|title= Robert Smullen announces bid for 118th Assembly District seat|website=The Times Telegram|author=Stephanie Sorrell-White|date=April 11, 2018|access-date=February 8, 2020}} Smullen defeated businessman Patrick Vincent in the Republican primary, and bested Democrat Keith Rubino in the November general election with 63% of the vote.{{Cite web|url=https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/37393/20181107/gop-s-robert-smullen-wins-easily-in-ny-assembly-118-race|title= GOP's Robert Smullen wins easily in NY Assembly 118 race|website=North Country Public Radio|author=Lauren Rosenthal|date=November 7, 2018|access-date=February 8, 2020}}
Personal life
Smullen lives on a farm in Johnstown with his wife, Megan, and their children. His son, AJ, died in March 2024 after being struck by a car.{{Cite web|url=https://nystateofpolitics.com/state-of-politics/new-york/politics/2025/02/26/n-y--lawmaker-unveils-bill-on-reckless-driving-awareness?oref=csny_albanyagenda_nl|title=N.Y. lawmaker's bill aims to raise reckless driving awareness after son's death|website=nystateofpolitics.com|date=February 26, 2025}}
=Legal issues=
In July 2018, while running for the Assembly, Smullen was arrested after he accepted a tax exemption for veterans on two residences at once, a felony.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wktv.com/content/news/118th-Assembly-District-candidate-Robert-Smullen-arrested-489043951.html|title=118th Assembly District Candidate Robert Smullen Arrested |website=WKTV|date=July 24, 2018|access-date=February 8, 2020}} Maintaining that the double filing had been a mistake, Smullen pleaded guilty to a reduced charge in May 2019 after he paid back the town of Niskayuna for the missing property tax.{{Cite web|url=https://dailygazette.com/article/2019/05/17/smullen-settles-felony-tax-case-as-violation|title= Smullen settles felony tax case as violation |website=The Daily Gazette|author=Pete DeMola|date=May 17, 2019|access-date=February 8, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Assemblyman-pleaded-guilty-to-violation-14099241.php|title= Assemblyman pleaded guilty to violation|website=The Times Union|author=Lauren Stanforth|date=July 19, 2019|access-date=February 8, 2020}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{New York State Assembly}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smullen, Robert}}
Category:People from Johnstown, New York
Category:Republican Party members of the New York State Assembly
Category:Georgetown University alumni
Category:Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy alumni
Category:21st-century members of the New York State Legislature