Philip Ragusa was first elected to the New York State Republican
Committee in 1984 and has served as State Committeeman representing
voters in Northeastern Queens ever since Mr. Ragusa was elected to
the prestigious post of Vice Chairman of the Queens County Republican
party in 1996. Queens Republican Senator Serphin R. Maltese is the
Chairman of the Queens County Republican party. As a State Committeeman
and as a Vice Chairman, Mr. Ragusa has been credited with being instrumental
in securing GOP support for the initial Mayoral Candidacy of Rudolph
W. Giuliani.
Mr. Ragusa also chaired the Queens County Republican party election
committee that voted to unanimously support George E. Pataki in 1994
and thereafter. Mr. Ragusa, as a high level party official has been
a longstanding advocate for the middle class, homeowners, senior citizens
and taxpayers. He has worked both as an advocate and as a party official
with and for Senator Frank Padavan, Assembly Member Douglas Prescott
and Council Member Mike Abel to meet these objectives. Because of
many years of legislative and civic involvement Mr. Ragusa enjoys
an unprecedented level of support on a State and City level; with
elected and appointed officials - whose actions have a direct impact
on the quality of life of all those who live in northeastern Queens.
Mr. Ragusa is a Certified Public Accountant licensed by New York
State. As the managing partner of the firm of Ragusa & Devito
CPA's for the past 23 years he has specialized in helping individuals,
businesses and non-profits organization providing accounting, tax
and auditing services. Mr. Ragusa has used his expertise to provide
critical assistance to a number of community, and civic organizations
including the Little Neck Douglaston Memorial Day Parade Organization,
the Whitestone Village Revitalization Committee, Beechhurst Property
Owners Association, and the Americans of Italian Heritage organization.
As State Committeeman of the 26th Assembly District Republican Committee,
Mr. Ragusa has presented the voters of East Flushing, Beechhurst,
Bayside, Douglaston, Little Neck, Whitestone, Malba, Bay Terrace,
Floral Park for 20 years, pushing for lower taxes and more responsible
and effective government.
As Vice Chairman of the Queens County Republican Party Mr. Ragusa
represents over 150,000 Republican voters throughout Queens County.
Mr. Ragusa has served in a number of other important public and civic
capacities including the following positions: Presidential Delegate
'84, '88, '92, '96, & 2000 National Conventions, Special Advisor
to Senator Maltese, Treasures for Council Member Mike Abel's campaign,
GOP Judicial Delegate and Delegate to State Conventions.
Mr. Ragusa is also President of the Beechhurst Property Owners Association,
Treasurer of the Whitestone Village Revitalization LTD, and Vice President
of Americans of Italian Heritage. Mr. Ragusa is a member in the Greater
Whitestone Taxpayers Association and the Benevolent & Protective
Order of the Elks and the Clearview Seniors Golf Association.
Mr. Ragusa's professional knowledge as a CPA and as a senior elected
GOP official in Queens County has been utilized to advance programs,
issues and legislation to help protect taxpayers. He has also advanced
the delivery of vital services to our communities' and has always
worked to improve the quality of life.
In these trying times Mr. Ragusa is also proud of his service in
the National Guard and United States Army Reserve. As a father of
a schoolteacher and product of the New York City Public Schools Mr.
Ragusa has joined with Senator Frank Padavan to protect and improve
the quality of the public schools in our neighborhoods. Mr. Ragusa
has also been privileged to be a member of the Fort Totten Advisory
Committee.
Mr. Ragusa has been honored by the Queens County Republican Party
as Man of the Year in 1996 and 2003 for his exemplary work with the
Republican Party in Northeast Queens. Under his leadership he has
helped elect Senator Frank Padavan, former Councilman Mike Abel and
former Assemblyman Doug Prescott.
Mr. Ragusa resides in Beechhurst, Queens with his wife Nelly. They
have been happily married for 35 years. Their daughter Stephanie and
son-in-law John are both N.Y. City schoolteachers. They, with Mr.
Ragusa's granddaughter, reside in Whitestone.
