Home About Chat Users Issues Party Candidates Polling Firms Media News Polls Calendar Key Races United States President Senate House Governors International

New User Account
"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource." 
Email: Password:

  Oddo, James S.
CANDIDATE DETAILS
AffiliationRepublican  
 
NameJames S. Oddo
Address16 Bank Place
Staten Island, New York , United States
EmailNone
WebsiteNone
Born January 12, 1966 (58 years)
Contributornystate63
Last ModifedJuan Croniqueur
Apr 03, 2024 11:44pm
Tags Italian -
InfoMinority Leader James S. Oddo was first elected to represent the people of the 50th Council District in a February 1999 special election to fill the seat of his predecessor and mentor John Fusco. Before being elected to the Council, Oddo served as Chief-of-Staff for Mr. Fusco and Legal Counsel for former Minority Leader Thomas V. Ognibene. Oddo ran and won five elections in his first seven years in office.

In 2002, Oddo was unanimously selected to serve as Minority Leader by the Council’s Republican delegation. He has been re-elected to that post in 2004 and 2006.

During his term in office the Staten Island Advance has described him as a “smart, passionate & savvy lawmaker,” whose “commitment on the issues is legendary,” and the Staten Island Advance has also praised him, stating that he “lives for his job, which, because of his ability, energy and insight, he does very well. No one works harder for the people of his district or for all of Staten Island than Mr. Oddo.”

Oddo has authored important and common sense legislation. Examples include:

· Historic legislation requiring the placement of life-saving AED’s in many public places (Local Law 20/2005);

· a bill to institute the first ever registration system for one-, two, and three-family home builders (Local Law 36/2007);

· a bill to protect houses of worship from vandals (Local Law 102/2005);

· legislation to protect high school age baseball players by limiting the use of non-wood bats (Local Law 20/2007);

· legislation increasing penalties for the illegal use or possession of dangerous fireworks (Local Law 69/2005); and

· a bill honoring the sacrifices of our veterans by mandating that the city fly the POW/MIA flag over our city parks (Local Law 32/2003).

In 2006, Speaker Christine Quinn appointed Oddo to Chair the new Task Force on Operations & Improvement of the Department of Buildings. This Task Force has been involved with analyzing all aspects of DOB’s operations and making suggestions for changes to benefit the people of New York and has ushered in a new era of cooperation between DOB and the City Council.

Recognizing that a quality education is one of the most important issues facing our city today, Oddo has secured millions of dollars in new initiatives for schools throughout his district, including much-needed class room space; the investment in new and exciting technology that improves the learning experience, such as new computer labs, “smart boards,” and wi fi technology; and new recreational places and playgrounds.

Following in the footsteps of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Oddo has made public safety a crucial aspect of his tenure in office. He has allocated more than $4 million to outfit various facilities in his district with security cameras, including the JCC Family Center; the Staten Island Railway; PS 11, 41, 54, 58, 186K, 50, and IS 2; and the South Beach and Berry Houses. He has also been a key figure in the fight to increase police resources on Staten Island.

To improve health care, Oddo has been a leading advocate for increased access to necessary services. He has allocated hundreds of thousands of dollars to bring state-of-the-art digital mammography machines to Staten Island and more than $1 million to help construct the desperately needed expansion of the emergency room at Staten Island University Hospital.

Oddo has also helped dramatically expand recreational opportunities in his district through his funding of new facilities such as the brand new New Dorp Beach Park; the Greenbelt Recreation Center; and various athletic fields, such as a new soccer field in Ocean Breeze and at the Recreation Center.

Oddo, a native Staten Islander, received his BA from Fordham University and JD from New York Law School. The youngest of four sons, he comes from a family of proud city employees and he has never forgotten his roots. He has spent his tenure in office fighting for the oft-forgotten middle class through his advocacy against higher taxes, especially through his opposition to the historic 18.5% property tax hike in 2002.

[Link]

JOB APPROVAL POLLS

BOOKS
Title Purchase Contributor

EVENTS
Start Date End Date Type Title Contributor

NEWS
Date Category Headline Article Contributor

DISCUSSION
Importance? 0.00000 Average

FAMILY

INFORMATION LINKS
RACES
  11/07/2017 Staten Island Borough President Won 74.80% (+50.58%)
  11/05/2013 Staten Island Borough President Won 68.91% (+39.05%)
  01/06/2010 New York City Council Minority Leader Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  11/03/2009 New York City Council 50 Won 75.17% (+50.35%)
  01/01/2006 New York City Council Minority Leader Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  11/08/2005 New York City Council 50 Won 77.96% (+55.93%)
  01/01/2004 New York City Council Minority Leader Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  11/04/2003 New York City Council 50 Won 76.79% (+53.58%)
  01/01/2002 New York City Council Minority Leader Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  11/06/2001 New York City Council 50 Won 67.39% (+35.25%)
  11/02/1999 New York City Council 50 Special Won 55.22% (+11.98%)
  02/16/1999 New York City Council 50 Special Won 52.52% (+12.41%)
ENDORSEMENTS
NYC Council 50 - R Primary - Jun 22, 2021 R David M. Carr
New York City Public Advocate Special - Feb 26, 2019 R Eric A. Ulrich
NY Assembly 63 - Nov 04, 2014 D Michael J. Cusick
NYC Mayor - R Primary - Sep 10, 2013 D Joe Lhota
NY US Senate - R Primary - Jun 26, 2012 R Robert L. "Bob" Turner
NYC Public Advocate - D Primary - Sep 15, 2009 D Bill de Blasio
NYC Comptroller - D Primary - Sep 15, 2009 D Melinda Katz
NY Assembly 62 - R Primary - Sep 14, 2004 R Vincent Ignizio