Serphin Maltese

Serphin R. Maltese (born December 7, 1932 ) is an American attorney and retired politician from the state of New York. A onetime chairman of the Conservative Party of New York, Maltese served as a state senator from district 15 from 1989 through 2008.

Early life Maltese, an Italian-American, was born in the neighborhood of Corona in the borough of Queens. In 1951, he graduated from Stuyvesant High School. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Manhattan College in 1958 and an LL.B. and a J.D. from the Fordham University School of Law.

Career Maltese has served as a Queens Assistant District Attorney and Deputy Chief of the Queens Homicide Bureau.

In 1984, Maltese ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives from central Queens. The seat was being vacated by Geraldine Ferraro, who was chosen to run for Vice President on the Democratic ticket with Walter Mondale. Maltese was defeated by Democrat Thomas J. Manton.

Maltese served as chairman of the Conservative Party of New York from 1986 to 1988.

Maltese represented New York's 15th State Senate District, located in Queens, from 1989 to 2008. He was elected as a Conservative for his first two terms, at most times with endorsement by the Republican and Right to Life parties. He became a Republican in 1990, and continued to win re-election in a district that normally favored Democrats. In 2006, Maltese was nearly defeated, narrowly beating Democrat Albert Baldeo by 894 votes. In 2008, Maltese was soundly defeated by New York City Councilman Joseph Addabbo Jr. as the Democrats took control of the State Senate.

During his Senate career, Maltese sponsored 239 bills that became law.

Personal life Maltese is married to portrait painter Constance Del Vecchio; they have two children and several grandchildren.