Steven Matteo

Steven Matteo
Minority Leader of the New York City Council
Assumed office
July 1, 2015
Preceded by Vincent M. Ignizio
Member of the New York City Council from the 50th District
Assumed office
January 1, 2014
Preceded by James Oddo
Personal details
Born (1977-02-18) February 18, 1977
Staten Island, New York
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Anne Matteo
Children 3
Alma mater St. Francis College (B.A.)
Touro Law School (J.D.)
Religion Catholic
Website Official website

Steven Matteo (born February 18, 1977) is the Council member for the 50th District of the New York City Council. He is a Republican.

His district, the 50th, is located completely on Staten Island and encompasses the neighborhoods of Arrochar, Bulls Head, Castleton Corners, Concord, Dongan Hills, Emerson Hill, Fort Wadsworth, Grant City, Graniteville, Grasmere, Heartland Village, Isle of Meadows, Meiers Corners, Midland Beach, New Dorp, New Springville, Oakwood, Ocean Breeze, Old Town, Prall's Island, Richmondtown, South Beach, Todt Hill, Travis, Westerleigh, and Willowbrook[1]

Life and career

Born on Staten Island as the youngest of three sons, Steven Matteo earned a B.A. from St. Francis College and a J.D. from Touro Law School. He started in politics by working as Deputy Director of Constituent Services to then-Councilman James Oddo in 2004 and then as Chief of Staff in 2006.

Matteo was originally going to be a candidate for the seat in 2009 but backed out after the change in the term limits law permitted Oddo to seek a third full term.[2]

First campaign and election

Matteo contested a bitter Republican primary for the seat on September 10, 2013, against attorney Lisa Giovinazzo.[3] The party feud led to fissures between Minority Leader James Oddo and Congressman Michael Grimm; the latter was supporting Giovinazzo.[4] The disagreement over the party's nomination in this race led to the resignation of GOP County Chairman and Grimm ally, Robert Scamardella.[4] Ultimately, Matteo won with 55% of the vote.[5]

In the general election, John Mancuso was the nominee of the Democratic Party.[6] Matteo won the general with nearly 64% of the vote.[6]

Election history
Location Year Election Results
NYC Council
District 50		 2013 Republican Primary √ Steven Matteo 55.18%
Lisa Giovinazzo 44.82%
NYC Council
District 50		 2013 General √ Steven Matteo (R) 63.51%
John M. Mancuso (D) 36.38%

New York City Council

Steven Matteo took office in 2014 and has had a focus on small business initiatives including the creation of merchant groups in his district.[7] Additionally, he has made traffic flow and driver safety a priority through intersection improvement requests.[8]

Due to the news of an impending resignation from the Council by Vincent Ignizio, there was speculation as to whether Matteo or Queens Republican Eric Ulrich would succeed to the position of Minority Leader.[9] Matteo was ultimately elected with votes from himself and Ignizio before the latter's departure from the Council.[10]

To date, Matteo has authored three pieces of legislation to pass the New York City Council. The first improved building construction standards by requiring mold resistant materials in moisture prone locations of new buildings.[11] This was followed later that year with a local law creating the West Shore Industrial Business Improvement District.[12] In 2016, Matteo authored and passed legislation that would require the City of New York to provide free automated external defibrillators for any youth baseball league that has games and practices on City-owned fields.[13]

References

Political offices
Preceded by
James Oddo		 New York City Council, 50th District
2014–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by
Vincent Ignizio		 Minority Leader
New York City Council
July 1, 2015–Present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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