24 Facts About Dede Scozzafava

Dierdre Kathryn "Dede" Scozzafava is an American politician in New York.

Dede Scozzafava represented District 122 in the New York State Assembly from 1999 to 2010.

Dede Scozzafava was the Republican nominee for the US House of Representatives in in a 2009 special election.

Dede Scozzafava faced opposition from some Republican and conservative figures who deemed her too liberal to receive their support.

Dede Scozzafava later announced that she would not seek re-election in 2010.

In January 2011, Scozzafava was appointed as the New York Deputy Secretary of State for Local Government by Governor Andrew M Cuomo, a post she held until June 2016.

Dede Scozzafava was later appointed as a Commissioner of the New York State Division of Tax Appeals Tribunal.

Dede Scozzafava was born in Buffalo, New York, and has resided most of her life in Gouverneur, New York, a small village located approximately halfway between Canton and Watertown.

Dede Scozzafava holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Boston University School of Management, as well as a Master of Business Administration from the Clarkson University Graduate School of Management.

Dede Scozzafava opposed gun control and had a lifetime "A" rating from the National Rifle Association of America.

Dede Scozzafava considered running in a special election for the 48th state Senate district, which included most of the northwestern portion of her former Assembly district, in 2008.

However, area Republicans chose Assemblyman William Barclay, in part because they thought Dede Scozzafava would be seen as too socially liberal.

Barclay lost the election to Democratic Assemblyman Darrel Aubertine, and some Republican operatives said that Dede Scozzafava should have been the Republican candidate.

In February 2008, Dede Scozzafava was reportedly approached by Democrats about switching parties after she was passed over for the Republican nomination in the 48th Senate District special election.

On July 22,2009, Dede Scozzafava was chosen by the 11 Republican Party county chairs located in the 23rd Congressional district to be the Republican nominee for the special election to fill the vacancy in that district.

The Conservative Party of New York State declined to support Dede Scozzafava, who was described by Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long as a "nice lady who is too liberal"; instead, the Conservative Party nominated Doug Hoffman.

Dede Scozzafava had voted for same-sex marriage in the New York State Assembly, and she had received an award from a Planned Parenthood affiliate in 2008.

Dede Scozzafava responded that she had had no direct ties to the company since 2007.

Dede Scozzafava received endorsements from former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Congressman Pete King, the National Rifle Association of America, the Log Cabin Republicans, and the New York State United Teachers.

An article in Politico stated that the White House had made a concerted effort to persuade Dede Scozzafava to endorse Owens, dispatching Long Island Congressman Steve Israel, New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to request her support.

Some observers speculated that Dede Scozzafava might become an independent caucusing with the Democratic super-majority in the state Assembly, or that she might leave the Republican Party altogether and become a Democrat.

However, Dede Scozzafava told WWNY-TV in Watertown on the day after the election that she intended to remain a Republican for the time being; she acknowledged that she felt betrayed by the national GOP for its quick endorsement of Hoffman following her exit from the race.

Dede Scozzafava endorsed Democrat Brian McGrath to fill her seat in New York's 122nd Assembly District, and McGrath was defeated by Republican Ken Blankenbush.

In January 2011, Scozzafava was appointed as the New York Deputy Secretary of State for Local Government by Governor Andrew M Cuomo and held that position until June 2016.