BINGHAMTON – Former State Senator Tom Libous, once a powerhouse in the state capital, lost his seven-year battle with prostate cancer Tuesday evening.
Libous’ passing was announced by former staff member Emmanuel Priest late Tuesday. Funeral arrangements for the 63-year-old are pending.
Libous was a leading member of the New York State Republican party, having served 14 terms as a representative of the state’s 52nd Senate District. His political influence spanned the course of three decades, starting in 1984 when he was elected to represent Binghamton’s south side on the Binghamton City Council. He was re-elected to that position in 1987. Regarded for his ability to connect with people throughout the Southern Tier, Libous was elected to the New York Senate in 1988 – a post he held until 2015.
Libous worked his way up the ranks of leadership in the New York legislature, serving several key positions including Chair of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee, Deputy Minority Leader, and, most recently, Deputy Majority Leader.
In the Senate, Libous was true to his conservative constituency, voting with his fellow Republicans on numerous contested issues. He opposed the Marriage Equality Act recognizing same-sex marriage in 2011, voted against required background checks for gun purchases as part of the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement (SAFE) Act of 2013, promoted legalization of medicinal marijuana, and continually called on legislative approval for high-volume hydraulic fracturing.
State Senator James Seward (R-51st Senate District) remembered Libous’ vigor while representing his constituents in Albany.
“As senators from neighboring districts, Senator Libous and I worked together on a regular basis to address the shared needs of our constituents,” said Seward in a statement made Tuesday. “Even while dealing with serious health problems of his own, Tom continued to work tirelessly, both in Albany and at home, to help those he represented. Senator Libous was a political giant in many ways, his positive influence felt far and wide, and a capable advocate for the Southern Tier. My sympathies to his family, friends, and the entire Southern Tier.”
Libous was a leader and founder of several community projects and programs, many of which centered on youth character development and early childhood literacy. In 1989, he started the YES! Safe Choices for Kids to help young people learn about the consequences of drug and alcohol abuse. In 1989, he founded the Student Community Service Awards, a partnership with WBNG TV and Broome-Tioga BOCES that awarded high school seniors with scholarships for their volunteer work in the community. He also founded the Books Open Opportunities for Kids to Succeed (BOOKS) program in 2000 which encouraged children to read by rewarding them for time spent reading rather than the number of books they read.
“He certainly was a friend of the Southern Tier,” said Lawrence Wilcox, chairman of the Chenango County Board of Supervisors. “He was always available and responsive to our needs here in Chenango County as well as the other counties that he represented.”
But in spite of praised political success, Libous’ career was marred by scandal in July 2014 after he was indicted on charges of falsifying information to the FBI. Libous was accused of making false statements to federal agents during an investigation into allegations that he used his political influence to get his son, Matthew, a high-paying job at a Westchester County law firm.
Libous was convicted in federal court in July, 2015, and stepped down from his seat in the Senate which remained vacant until the start of 2016. He was succeeded by Republican Fred Akshar.
In a statement, Akshar remembered Libous as a devoted leader who left a positive legacy.
“Kate and I are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Senator Tom Libous. I cherished the time we had together, his friendship and the guidance he gave me as a new Senator,” Akshar said. “Tom Libous was a terrific public servant and his work for his constituents left a permanent, positive impact on our community, just as he left an indelible mark on those who knew him on a personal level. There’s not much more you could ask of a person.”
Libous was sentenced by a federal judge in November, 2015; however, due to the declining state of his physical health, he was issued a light sentence of six months house arrest and probation. He was in the process of appealing the court’s conviction.
Libous announced that he was being treated for prostate cancer in 2009. By 2012, the disease had reportedly spread to his lungs. Sources say he had entered Hospice care in Endicott earlier this week.