Serphin R. Maltese
Member of the New York State Senate
from the 15th district
In office
January 1, 1988 – December 31, 2008
Preceded byMartin J. Knorr
Succeeded byJoseph Addabbo, Jr.
Chair of the New York Conservative Party
In office
1986–1988
Preceded byJ. Daniel Mahoney
Succeeded byMichael R. Long
Personal details
Born (1932-12-07) December 7, 1932
Corona, New York, United States
Political partyConservative Party
Republican Party
Alma materManhattan College (BA)
Fordham University (LLB, JD)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Rank Corporal
Unit45th Infantry Division
Battles/warsKorean War

Serphin R. Maltese (born December 7, 1932)[1] is an American attorney and retired politician from the state of New York. A onetime chairman of the Conservative Party of New York, Maltese served as a state senator from District 15 from 1989 through 2008.

Early life

Maltese, an Italian-American,[2] was born in the neighborhood of Corona in the borough of Queens. In 1951, he graduated from Stuyvesant High School. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Manhattan College in 1958 and an LL.B. and a J.D. from the Fordham University School of Law.[1] He is a Korean War veteran.[3]

Career

Maltese has served as a Queens Assistant District Attorney and Deputy Chief of the Queens Homicide Bureau.[4][5]

In 1984, Maltese ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives from central Queens. The seat was being vacated by Geraldine Ferraro, who was chosen to run for Vice President on the Democratic ticket with Walter Mondale.[6] Maltese was defeated by Democrat Thomas J. Manton.[7]

Maltese served as chairman of the Conservative Party of New York[8] from 1986 to 1988.[9]

Maltese represented New York's 15th State Senate District, located in Queens,[10] from 1989[11] to 2008.[12] He was elected as a Conservative for his first two terms, at most times with endorsement by the Republican and Right to Life parties. He became a Republican in 1990, and continued to win re-election in a district that normally favored Democrats. In 2006, Maltese was nearly defeated,[13] narrowly beating Democrat Albert Baldeo by 894 votes.[14] In 2008, Maltese was soundly defeated by New York City Councilman Joseph Addabbo, Jr.[15][16] as the Democrats took control of the State Senate.[17]

During his Senate career, Maltese sponsored 239 bills that became law.[4]

Community involvement

As of February 2019, Maltese served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Christ The King Regional High School, an independent Catholic high school in Middle Village, Queens.[18]

Personal life

Maltese is married to portrait painter Constance Del Vecchio; they have two children and several grandchildren.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Gotham Gazette's Eye On Albany: New York State Senate: District 15". www.gothamgazette.com.
  2. ↑ "Former Senator Serphin R. Maltese Honored by LaGuardia Community College".
  3. ↑ "Poll Shows Races Tighten for Control of State Senate". WNYC.
  4. 1 2 3 Romero, Maria. "Serphin Maltese, Attorney & Counselor at law – QNS.com". qns.com.
  5. ↑ Peddie, Sandra (February 27, 2020). "'Everybody wanted to get glory'". Newsday.
  6. ↑ Barbanel, Josh (12 October 1984). "2 Strive to Win Ferraro's House Seat" – via NYTimes.com.
  7. ↑ Lynn, Frank (7 November 1984). "President Sweeps the Tristate Area" – via NYTimes.com.
  8. ↑ "Queens Republicans Back Maltese in Race". 29 June 1988 – via NYTimes.com.
  9. ↑ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart.
  10. ↑ "Addabbo running hard for Maltese's state Senate district". QNS.com. August 20, 2008.
  11. ↑ Russonello, Giovanni (August 11, 2008). "In Queens, a Race to Control the Senate". Gotham Gazette.
  12. ↑ "A conservative upsets the status quo". www.brooklyndowntownstar.com. December 23, 2020.
  13. ↑ Paybarah, Azi (22 August 2008). "Baldeo Dropping out of State Senate Race". Observer.com.
  14. ↑ "2006 general election results" (PDF). Elections.NY.gov.
  15. ↑ Koplowitz, Howard (November 11, 2008). "Addabbo takes seat from Sen. Maltese". QNS.com.
  16. ↑ "2008 general election results" (PDF). Elections.NY.gov.
  17. ↑ Confessore, Nicholas; Hakim, Danny (5 November 2008). "Democrats Are Poised to Control Albany" – via NYTimes.com.
  18. ↑ Lepore, Steven (February 26, 2019). "Culture group's comedy show proceeds helps fund new Middle Village school scholarship fund". QNS.com.
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