Felix Grucci
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Felix J. Grucci, Jr. (born November 25, 1951) is a former United States Representative from East Patchogue, New York. He was elected as a Republican to the 107th United States Congress and served from 2001 until 2003.
Grucci was born in Brookhaven, New York. The son of the owner of a fireworks company, Fireworks by Grucci, he worked for his father and later took over the business. In 1993, Grucci ran for his first political office, earning a seat on the Brookhaven Town Council. In 1996, he was elected to a four year term as town supervisor. In 2000, he was elected to Congress easily, after Democratic incumbent Michael Forbes, who had switched from the Republican Party in 1999, was upset in the primary by an underfunded and unknown opponent, Regina Seltzer.
Grucci was considered a lock for re-election in the First District in 2002. Running against little-known college provost Tim Bishop, Grucci's campaign launched an attack ad claiming that his opponent had ignored sexual assault charges at Southampton College. Not only did the attacks raise his opponent's profile, they were based on inaccurate and discredited information from the college's student newspaper. The attack backfired and Bishop was narrowly elected, one of just a handful of Democratic bright spots in an otherwise good election cycle for Republicans.
His wife is named Madeleine and his son is named Felix. They weekly attend mass at Mary Immaculate Church in Bellport.
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Preceded by Michael P. Forbes |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 1st congressional district 2001–2003 |
Succeeded by Timothy H. Bishop |