Former GC Resident becomes Secretary for Public Safety

Many will remember one of our dynamic Republican volunteers for John Dunne and Kemp Hannon who went on to serve himself in state government. Michael Balboni made a smooth transition first to the Assembly and then onto the Senate. He continues to press onward and in December, Governor-Elect Eliot Spitzer announced he would appoint Senator Balboni to serve as Deputy Secretary for Public Safety. Mike's role encompasses having day-to-day responsibility for managing homeland security affairs, emergency preparedness and response, and law enforcement. Prior to this appointment he was the Chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs. He was the author of the state’s Anti-Terrorism Law of 2001 that mandates severe penalties for those who commit terror acts, make terror threats, or render assistance to terrorists. He also authored a 2002 law that helps protect the state’s water supply from terror attacks. In 2005, he authored the Chemical Plant Security Act, the first of its kind in the nation. In 2004, Mr. Balboni was appointed to serve on a national task force reviewing allocation of federal money for homeland security measures. In 2005, he was named Senior Fellow at the Homeland Security Policy Institute at George Washington University. In addition, he co-chaired the National Conference of State Legislatures Executive Task Force on Homeland Security. Mr. Balboni, a graduate of Garden City High School, Adelphi University and St. John’s University Law School. We wish Mike well in his new post and can rest easier knowing he will be looking out for us.