Felix Grucci
The Republican: New York's First
Congressional District

The Republican contender for the House seat from New York's First Congressional District is fireworks magnate Felix Grucci, a highly successful businessman with little formal education. He has been president of one of the world's leading fireworks manufacturers, Fireworks by Grucci, since 1983 and Supervisor of the town of Brookhaven since 1995.

Grucci gained 60 percent of the popular vote in each of his three elections to Town Supervisor. While in office, he has led implementation of a program dedicated to helping public school students learn about local government. He also introduced a local anti-crime program called Operation FireStorm. Through Operation FireStorm, abandoned buildings thought to attract drug dealing and prostitution are demolished in order to rid the community of the unsafe structures and of potential danger to the community.

Grucci serves on the National Fire Protection Association, and has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Pyrotechnic Association and as vice president and board member of the American Fireworks Standards Laboratories.

Awards include Advancement for Commerce and Industry's Businessman of the Year in 1999 and a Public Leadership Award in Economic Development from the Long Island Business Development Corporation in 1998. Last year, Grucci received an award from the Brookhaven Arts and Humanities Council for support of the arts, and an award from the Robert S. Still Republican Club for outstanding leadership and commitment.

Grucci is a 50-year-old married Catholic and lifelong resident of Brookhaven. He has a public high school education. Grucci and his wife Madeline have two children, Danielle and Felix III.