Dean Skelos

Dean G. Skelos (born February 16, 1948) is a former American politician and the former Majority Leader of the New York State Senate. Prior to his conviction on federal corruption charges, Skelos represented District 9 in the State Senate, which comprises the southwest region of Nassau County, from 1985 through 2015.

Skelos is the second Long Islander to hold the position of Majority Leader, following Ralph J. Marino. In 2015, Skelos and his son were arrested and then convicted on federal corruption charges. Skelos vacated his leadership post following the arrest, and was then convicted, resulting in his automatic expulsion from the New York State Senate. This conviction followed by less than two weeks the conviction of the former New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Early life

Skelos graduated from Washington College with a B.A. in History in 1970, and earned a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in 1975.

Political career

New York State Assembly

Skelos first won elective office on November 4, 1980. Running on the Republican, Conservative, and Right-to-Life party lines, he defeated Democratic and Liberal party candidate Peter S. Kilcommons, Jr. by a 64% to 36% margin (30,749 to 17,371), to win election in the vacant 19th Assembly District representing Nassau County. The New York State Assembly seat became vacant when incumbent Assemblyman Raymond J. McGrath decided to run for an open seat in the United States House of Representatives due to the retirement of nine-term incumbent John W. Wydler.