Arcuri returned to Utica to open a law office in 1986.
Oneida County District Attorney
In 1993, Arcuri was elected District Attorney of Oneida County, home to Utica. He was only the third Democrat ever to hold the post and the first in 40 years.
U.S. House of Representatives
The 22nd congressional district encompasses a large swath of central New York, including Utica, Auburn, Rome and most of the suburbs of Binghamton.
In 2002, Arcuri personally prosecuted Joseph A. Smith of Oneida for the murder of Desiree Case of Yorkville. Her body was discovered in an abandoned house on February 26, 2000. Smith was arrested on November 29, 2001, after he was charged with two counts of second-degree murder in a sealed indictment. A jury found Smith guilty of both counts of murder in March 2002. In late June 2002 a judge set aside the conviction, when Arcuri brought forward evidence he discovered that the defense was not provided with in the case, most notably the confession of another man, Earl Wright, who was eventually found guilty of the murder of Case. Arcuri dropped charges against Smith and he was released from jail on August 1, 2002. He later filed a claim for misconduct and negligence against the Oneida County District Attorney's Office and the City of Utica, N.Y., Police Department, which was settled out of court.[4][5][6][7][8]
In November 2006, Arcuri defeated State Senator Ray Meier for the 22nd District congressional seat left open by the retiring Sherwood Boehlert. Arcuri won by 54 percent of the vote to Meier's 45 percent, becoming only the second Democrat to represent this district and its predecessors in 106 years,[9] and the first since 1951.
In his bid for re-election in 2008, Arcuri faced a closer-than-expected challenge from businessman Richard L. Hanna but prevailed. Arcuri won 52 percent of the votes to Hanna's 48 percent
In a rematch of the election two years prior, Arcuri faced off again against Hanna but lost 101,599 to 85,624, as the GOP made gains across the country.
2016
Arcuri ran for Oneida County Court judge but lost to Assistant District Attorney Robert Bauer.
Personal life
Arcuri has four children: Carmen Joseph, Dominique, Nicholas Deon, and Sophia Rose Arcuri. He is married to the former Sabrina Kennedy.
