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| Affiliation | Republican |
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| Name | George Maziarz |
| Address |
Lockport, New York , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
May 25, 1953
(71 years)
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| Contributor | nystate63 |
| Last Modifed | nystate63
Jan 25, 2005 06:00pm |
| Tags |
Catholic -
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| Info | A native of North Tonawanda, George D. Maziarz was born on May 25, 1953, and has remained a lifelong resident of the city. Maziarz was educated in local schools, first at Ascension Academy and then North Tonawanda High School, from which he graduated in 1972. Four years later, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Niagara University.
Entering into city government in North Tonawanda as a deputy clerk, George Maziarz quickly earned the distinction of being the youngest city clerk in New York State when he was appointed to the position in 1978 at the age of 25. He remained in this position until 1989, at which time he was elected to the office of Niagara County clerk. His re-election as county clerk in 1993 produced the largest Republican vote ever received by an official in a county-wide election in Niagara County.
Maziarz' career focus shifted to state-wide office in 1995 when a special election was held to fill the 61st Senate District seat vacated by veteran lawmaker John B. Daly, who was promoted to Commissioner of Transportation in Albany. George Maziarz ran as the Republican candidate for the seat, which includes the western end of Monroe County, all of Orleans County, and nearly all of Niagara County. After emerging victorious from a hard-fought three-way race, Maziarz took his oath of office on March 20, 1995, and his career in the New York State Senate began.
During his Senate tenure, Senator Maziarz' name has been associated with several key pieces of legislation. He is most proud of the following:
• "Megan's Law," which establishes a sex offender registry to monitor the whereabouts of sexually violent criminals when they are released from prison and authorizes community notification by local police to individuals and organizations if a high-risk offender is living in their area; • Groundbreaking legislation, now law, which requires prescription plans to cover enteral formula and certain low protein foods for sufferers of metabolic diseases; • Legislation created in the wake of Western New York's "Bike Path Rapist" which would increase the statute of limitations for class B violent felony offenses (including rape) from five to ten years from the time of commission of the crime; • Sponsorship of "The New York State Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1997," landmark legislation that will prevent "drive through mastectomies" and provide expanded insurance coverage for patients who wish to undergo second opinions for cancer diagnosis and treatment or undergo breast reconstruction surgery.
Senator Maziarz' reputation as a diligent advocate for his constituents and conscientious lawmaker has been recognized by his legislative colleagues and Senate leadership. In January 1997, Maziarz was named by Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno to serve as chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, a post which he held through the 2001-2002 session.
Under six years of the senator's leadership, the committee concentrated on several major issues to improve the quality of life for the aging population across New York State. Maziarz and his committee members succeeded in several areas including:
• Enactment of a law enabling a state tax deduction for the purchase of long term care insurance policies; • Enactment of the "Long-Term Care Integration and Finance Act" to promote the development of more long-term health care options for seniors; • Increasing funding for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) by $2 million; • Restoration of funding for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) for the first time in five years; • Securing enhancements to EPIC, the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage program, which adjusts income limits to make more seniors, especially middle income seniors eligible for this cost-saving program.
In light of these accomplishments, Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno appointed Senator Maziarz Chairman of the Committee on Tourism, Recreation, and Sports Development at the beginning of the 2003-2004 legislative session. Another change for the Senator occurred at this time--the 61 District became the 62nd District due to the statewide redistricting process.
Senator Maziarz previously headed the Senate's Legislative Commission on Administrative Regulatory Review (ARRC) and the Water Resource Commission. He currently serves as a member of the following standing committees: Aging; Banks; Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business; Crime Victims and Crime Corrections; Energy and Telecommunications; Health; and Housing, Construction, and Community Development.
Although maintaining that a good legislator has to be involved in numerous subject areas, Senator Maziarz has declared four areas of particular importance to the residents of his district: relief from taxes, the restoration of economic health to Western New York and its neighbors, crime prevention/victims' assistance, and increased attention to senior citizens' needs.
Continually involved in community life, Senator Maziarz has served as president of the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas, member of the board of directors of the United Way of the Tonawandas, member of the corporate advisory board of DeGraff Memorial Hospital, and chair of the highly successful Canal Festival of the Tonawandas. He is also a past officer and 29-year member of Live Hose Co. #4, member of the Niagara County Volunteer Firemen's Association, Knights of Columbus Council 2535, S.C.O.P.E., and the Niagara University Booster Club.
He is an active member of Ascension R.C. Church in North Tonawanda.
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