Chris Jacobs (politician)

Christopher L. Jacobs (born November 28, 1966) is an American politician currently serving as a member of the New York State Senate for the 60th district. Jacobs also served as the 62nd Secretary of State of New York. Until December 31, 2016, he was the County Clerk of Erie County, New York. In May 2019, Jacobs announced that he was running for New York's 27th congressional district in the 2020 elections.[1][2] On June 23, 2020, he won a special election to fill the vacant congressional seat during the 116th United States Congress.

Chris Jacobs
Member-elect of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 27th district
Assuming office
TBD
SucceedingChris Collins
Member of the New York Senate
from the 60th district
Assumed office
January 1, 2017
Preceded byMarc Panepinto
9th County Clerk of Erie County
In office
January 1, 2012 – January 1, 2017
DeputyPeggy LaGree
Preceded byKathy Hochul
Succeeded byMickey Kearns
62nd Secretary of State of New York
In office
April 19, 2006 – January 1, 2007
GovernorGeorge Pataki
Preceded byFrank Milano (acting)
Succeeded byLorraine Cortés-Vázquez
Member of the Buffalo Public Schools Board of Education
from the at-large district
In office
July 2004 – November 2011
Preceded byDonald Van Every
Succeeded byBarbara Seals-Nevergold
Personal details
Born (1966-11-28) November 28, 1966
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican (before 1998, 2001–present)
Other political
affiliations		Democratic (1998–2001)
Spouse(s)Martina
RelativesJeremy Jacobs (uncle)
Jerry Jacobs Jr. (cousin)
Charlie Jacobs (cousin)
EducationBoston College (BA)
American University (MA)
University at Buffalo (JD)

Early life and education

Jacobs was born in Buffalo, New York as one of five siblings.[3] He is a member of the Jacobs family, who have long owned the Delaware North Companies and the Boston Bruins hockey team.[4] Jacobs studied at Boston College, later receiving a master's degree from American University and a Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo Law School.

Career

Prior to holding public office, Jacobs served as Deputy Commissioner of Environment and Planning in the administration of Erie County Executive Joel Giambra.[4] Jacobs also worked at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development under then-HUD Secretary Jack Kemp.[5]

Jacobs co-founded the BISON Scholarship Fund (Buffalo Inner-city Scholarship Opportunity Network) in 1995. The BISON Fund provides scholarships to City of Buffalo residents to attend private grad schools. In 2004, he was elected as an at-large member of the Buffalo Board of Education; he was re-elected in 2009.[6]

Jacobs serves on the Boards of Buffalo Place and the Freedom Station Coalition and was previously a board member at the Catholic Academy of West Buffalo and the Olmsted Parks Conservancy.[6]

On April 19, 2006 Jacobs was appointed as New York Secretary of State by Governor George Pataki.[7] During his time as secretary of state, Jacobs took an active role in the development of the Niagara River Greenway.

In 2011, Jacobs was elected Erie County Clerk. He was re-elected to the post in 2014.[6]

New York Senate

In February 2006, Jacobs was the Republican nominee in a special election for the State Senate for a seat representing Buffalo and Niagara Falls. Jacobs was defeated by Democrat Marc Coppola.[8]

On November 8, 2016, Jacobs defeated Democrat Amber Small for the 60th District State Senate seat. The district was formerly represented by Democrat Marc Panepinto, with Jacobs' victory contributing to the New York State Senate Republican majority.[9]

Jacobs won re-election in 2018.[10] In May 2019, Jacobs announced that he would run for New York's 27th congressional district in the 2020 elections after the resignation of Chris Collins.[1][2] Jacobs defeated Nate McMurray in the June 23, 2020 special election, and will serve for the remainder of Collins' term.[11]

References
  1. "Chris Jacobs calls Collins ineffective; will run against him in 2020". May 17, 2019.
  3. Rey, Jay (October 31, 2018). "Chris Jacobs has edge in money, incumbency over Carima El-Behairy in State Senate race". The Buffalo News. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  4. "State GOP Hinges on Chris Jacobs". The Public. October 12, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  5. Heaney, Jim (September 22, 2012). "Interview: Chris Jacobs". Investigative Post. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  6. "About Chris Jacobs". Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  7. "Jacobs Dodges on Trump, Flanagan". www.nystateofpolitics.com. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  8. "2006 Election Results | New York State Board of Elections". www.elections.ny.gov.
  9. "Chris Jacobs Defeats Amber Small in 60th Senate District Race". Twcnews.com. November 9, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  10. "Our Campaigns - NY State Senate 60 Race - Nov 06, 2018". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  11. McKinley, Jesse (June 24, 2020). "Republicans Retain House Seat in Special Election in Western N.Y." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
Political offices
Preceded by
Frank Milano
Acting		 Secretary of State of New York
2006–2007		 Succeeded by
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
New York State Senate
Preceded by
Marc Panepinto		 Member of the New York Senate
from the 60th district
2017–present		 Incumbent
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