Michael Angelo Arcuri (born June 11, 1959) is an American politician who was the

U.S. representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

for from 2007 to 2011. He is a member of the

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

. He lost re-election on November 2, 2010, to Republican Richard L. Hanna. Arcuri is a member and an administrative law judge of the New York Industrial Board of Appeals.

Early life, education and career

Arcuri's father was Carmen Arcuri. His mother, Elizabeth, retired as a stenographer. Arcuri graduated from

Thomas R. Proctor High School Thomas R. Proctor High School is the only high school in the Utica City School District in Utica, New York. The school was built in 1934 with funds from the Works Progress Administration and Thomas R. Proctor. It opened its doors on September 9, ...

, in

Utica, New York Utica () is a city in the Mohawk Valley and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The tenth-most-populous city in New York State, its population was 65,283 in the 2020 U.S. Census. Located on the Mohawk River at the ...

in 1977. In 1981, Arcuri graduated from the

State University of New York at Albany The State University of New York at Albany, commonly referred to as the University at Albany, UAlbany or SUNY Albany, is a public research university with campuses in Albany, Rensselaer, and Guilderland, New York. Founded in 1844, it is one ...

where he majored in history and minored in economics. In 1984, he graduated from

New York Law School New York Law School (NYLS) is a private law school in Tribeca, New York City. NYLS has a full-time day program and a part-time evening program. NYLS's faculty includes 54 full-time and 59 adjunct professors. Notable faculty members include E ...

and was admitted to practice law in New York state in 1985. Arcuri returned to Utica to open a law office in 1986.

Oneida County District Attorney

In 1993, Arcuri was elected District Attorney of Oneida County, home to Utica. He was only the third Democrat ever to hold the post and the first in 40 years.

U.S. House of Representatives

The 22nd congressional district encompasses a large swath of central New York, including Utica, Auburn,

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

and most of the suburbs of

Binghamton Binghamton () is a city in the U.S. state of New York, and serves as the county seat of Broome County. Surrounded by rolling hills, it lies in the state's Southern Tier region near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the conflue ...

. A member of the moderate

Blue Dog Coalition The Blue Dog Coalition (commonly known as the Blue Dogs or Blue Dog Democrats) is a caucus in the United States House of Representatives comprising centrist members from the Democratic Party. The caucus was founded as a group of conservative De ...

, Arcuri was named by the

National Review ''National Review'' is an American conservative editorial magazine, focusing on news and commentary pieces on political, social, and cultural affairs. The magazine was founded by the author William F. Buckley Jr. in 1955. Its editor-in-chief ...

(March 2010) as one of the most centrist members of the House, with a voting record of 50.2% liberal and 49.8% conservative, a distinction he shared with only one other member of the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

during the

110th Congress The 110th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, between January 3, 2007, and January 3, 2009, during the last two years of the Presidency of George W. Bush. It was composed of ...

Committee assignments

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure The U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. History The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure was formerly known as the Committee on Public Works a ...

** Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management ** Subcommittee on Highways and Transit ** Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials * Committee on Rules ** Subcommittee on Rules and the Organization of the House

Controversy

In 2002, Arcuri personally prosecuted Joseph A. Smith of Oneida for the murder of Desiree Case of Yorkville. Her body was discovered in an abandoned house on February 26, 2000. Smith was arrested on November 29, 2001 after he was charged with two counts of second-degree murder in a sealed indictment. A jury found Smith guilty of both counts of murder in March 2002. In late June 2002 a judge set aside the conviction, when Arcuri brought forward evidence he discovered that the defense was not provided with in the case, most notably the confession of another man, Earl Wright, who was eventually found guilty of the murder of Case. Arcuri dropped charges against Smith and he was released from jail on August 1, 2002. He later filed a claim for

misconduct Misconduct is wrongful, improper, or unlawful conduct motivated by premeditated or intentional purpose or by obstinate indifference to the consequences of one's acts. It is an act which is forbidden or a failure to do that which is required. Misc ...

and

negligence Negligence (Lat. ''negligentia'') is a failure to exercise appropriate and/or ethical ruled care expected to be exercised amongst specified circumstances. The area of tort law known as ''negligence'' involves harm caused by failing to act as a ...

against the Oneida County District Attorney's Office and the City of Utica, N.Y., Police Department, which was settled out of court.

Elections

2006

In November 2006, Arcuri defeated State Senator Ray Meier for the 22nd District congressional seat left open by the retiring

Sherwood Boehlert Sherwood Louis Boehlert (September 28, 1936September 20, 2021) was an American politician from New York. He represented a large swath of central New York in the United States House of Representatives from 1983 until 2007. Boehlert, a Republican, ...

. Arcuri won by 54 percent of the vote to Meier's 45 percent, becoming only the second Democrat to represent this district and its predecessors in 106 years, and the first since 1951.

2008

In his bid for re-election in 2008, Arcuri faced a closer-than-expected challenge from businessman Richard L. Hanna but prevailed. Arcuri won 52 percent of the votes to Hanna’s 48 percent

2010

In a rematch of the election two years prior, Arcuri faced off again against Hanna but lost 101,599 to 85,624, as the GOP made gains across the country.

2016

Arcuri ran for Oneida County Court judge but lost to Assistant District Attorney Robert Bauer.

Personal life

Arcuri has four children: Carmen Joseph, Dominique, Nicholas Deon, and Sophia Rose Arcuri. He is married to the former Sabrina Kennedy.

References

External links

Arcuri for Congress
''official campaign site'' *
Profile
at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee * , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Arcuri, Michael 1959 births Living people Politicians from Utica, New York County district attorneys in New York (state) University at Albany, SUNY alumni New York Law School alumni Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state) 21st-century American politicians Members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state) Members of Congress who became lobbyists