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| Affiliation | Democratic |
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| Name | Paul A. Tokasz |
| Address |
Cheektowaga, New York , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
October 26, 1946
(77 years)
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| Contributor | nystate63 |
| Last Modifed | nystate63
Feb 14, 2005 12:12pm |
| Tags |
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| Info | Paul A. Tokasz, Democrat, was first elected to the New York State Assembly in a Special Election held on March 15, 1988. He represents the 143rd Assembly District, which includes the Town of Cheektowaga, the Town of Lancaster and the Villages of Depew, Lancaster and Sloan. A lifelong resident of the Town of Cheektowaga, Assemblyman Tokasz was born on October 26, 1946. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Hobart College in 1968. He furthered his education at Buffalo State College and obtained his Master's Degree in Education in 1971. Passionate about education, Assemblyman Tokasz has completed courses in Education at Canisius College and Business Administration at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Assemblyman Tokasz was an elementary school teacher in the City of Buffalo from 1968 to 1977. His teaching experiences have made him a strong advocate for enhancing educational opportunities for all New Yorkers.
Assemblyman Tokasz was Deputy County Clerk in charge of the Erie County Auto Bureau from 1977 to 1986 and Clerk of the Erie County Legislature during 1977. He served as First Deputy County Clerk in the Erie County Clerk's Office from 1987 to 1988.
Actively involved in many civic and social organizations, Assemblyman Tokasz currently serves as a member of many organizations including the Cheektowaga Chamber of Commerce and the Fireman's Association of New York State. A past member of the Buffalo State College Council, Assemblyman Tokasz was also a member of the World University Games Founding Committee and a member of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Stabilization Committee.
Assemblyman Tokasz is a full-time Member of the State Legislature. He maintains a district office at 125 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203. "Constituent Service" remains the Assemblyman’s top priority. As a member of the Western New York Delegation, Assemblyman Tokasz has worked tirelessly to ensure that the needs of area residents are considered in the annual budgets and in the State Legislature. As a result of his efforts, the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) selected Tokasz as one of its outstanding legislators in 1989. He has also received numerous awards, including the 2000 Golden Trumpet Award from the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York, University of Buffalo Legislative Action Committee Award, the 1999 William Hoyt Advocacy Award, the 1999 Friend of Education Award, and the NYS Athletic Administrators Association’s Distinguished Service Award.
Assemblyman Tokasz has also been recognized by the Environmental Planning Lobby and other organizations for his passionate support of important environmental issues. He is the recipient of the 2001 Paul MacClennan Environmental Citizen of the Year Award from the Center for Great Lakes Environmental Education.
Assemblyman Tokasz is the Majority Leader of the State Assembly, appointed by Speaker Sheldon Silver in January 2001. As Majority Leader, Assemblyman Tokasz is responsible for directing the day-to-day operations of the legislative session in the chamber. In that role, Majority Leader Tokasz serves as the floor leader, setting the daily agenda, and overseeing debate and voting on all legislation.
Prior to being appointed as Majority Leader, Assemblyman Tokasz served as Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Tourism, Arts and Sports Development. Serving in that role from 1997, he proved to be a strong advocate for both arts and tourism interests. In his first two years as Chairman, Tokasz pushed for millions of dollars in additional funding to the New York State Council on the Arts. His emphasis on economic development through investment in the arts and culture was realized through the Community Enhancement Facilities Assistance Program. This program, included in the 1997-98 state budget, enabled arts and cultural facilities across the state to apply for new capital funding.
In addition, Tokasz initiated several aggressive statewide policies to fully realize the connection between arts, tourism, and economic development. Since 1998, the State budget has funded a cultural tourism program to support collaborative efforts by arts and cultural groups. This funding acted as a powerful incentive for arts and tourism groups to work together in joint marketing efforts.
A former member of Doyle Fire Company No. 2, Tokasz also served as the Chairman of the Assembly Subcommittee on Volunteer Firefighters. He served three terms as a member of the Executive Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Continuing his involvement with NCSL, Assemblyman Tokasz is a Board Member of the Foundation for State Legislatures. Assemblyman Tokasz also serves on the State Archives and Records Administration Visiting Committee.
Assemblyman Tokasz served as Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Election Law during the 1995 and 1996 Legislative Sessions. Accomplishments achieved under the Chairmanship of Assemblyman Tokasz include significant Ballot Access Reform, which was an Assembly priority for 22 years. Under Tokasz’ leadership, a constitutional amendment was adopted implementing the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 ("Motor Voter").
Assemblyman Tokasz has been married to the former Sylvia Kasza for thirty-five years. Paul and Sylvia have three children: Kristie, a practicing attorney, who is married to Steven Kantor; Jennifer, who works for the May Company; and Andrew, who works in the insurance industry and is married to Christine. Paul and Sylvia also have three grandchildren, Jacob and Bradley Kantor and Sydney Tokasz.
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