George Maziarz
George D. Maziarz (b. May 25, 1953) is a former Republican member of the New York State Senate, representing District 62 from a special election in March 1995 to January 1, 2015.
Maziarz did not run for re-election in 2014.[1]
Maziarz served as deputy city clerk for North Tonawanda from 1977 to 1978. He was the city clerk from 1978 to 1989. From 1989 to 1995, he served as Niagara County Clerk for Niagara County.
Biography
Maziarz attended Niagara County Community College and earned his B.A. in history from Niagara University in 1976. His professional experience includes working as the president of the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas and as commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation.[2]
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Maziarz served on the following committees:
| New York committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Consumer Protection |
| • Crime Victims, Crime and Correction |
| • Education |
| • Energy and Telecommunications, Chair |
| • Environmental Conservation |
| • Rules |
| • Transportation |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Maziarz served on these committees:
| New York committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Crime Victims, Crime and Correction |
| • Education |
| • Energy and Telecommunications, Chair |
| • Environmental Conservation |
| • Higher Education |
| • Rules |
| • Transportation |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Maziarz served on these committees:
| New York committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Crime Victims, Crime and Correction |
| • Energy and Telecommunications |
| • Finance |
| • Higher Education |
| • Judiciary |
Issues
Tax extensions
Promoting his 2013-14 budget, Governor Andrew Cuomo and his 2014 re-election campaign launched television ads in late January, 2013.[3] E.J. McMahon of the pro-market Empire State Center for New York Policy argued that Cuomo's claim in the ads that his budget did not impose any new taxes was technically true but disingenuous because the governor did call for extending two taxes with automatic expirations first imposed in 2009. Cuomo proposed extending the 2 percent assessment on electric, water and gas utility bills for five years beyond its scheduled March 13, 2014 expiration date. Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R) and the Senate Republicans opposed the utility tax extension and held a press conference on the topic with representatives from the Business Council of New York State, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY), the New York Farm Bureau and AARP. At the press conference, Maziarz said, "When this tax was adopted by Senate Democrats we were promised, and in turn we promised our constituents, that it would be temporary. It’s long past time that we kept that promise."[4] Cuomo also proposed extending a tax on households earning more than $10 million annually. Already statutorily limited to receiving only half of their tax deductions for their charitable giving, high-end taxpayers would see the temporary law limiting them to receiving only a quarter of their charitable giving deductions extended for three more years. The utility assessment tax brings in $509 million annually, and the charitable giving deduction limit brings in $140 million.[5]
Marijuana Legislation
In June 2012, Maziarz opposed a proposal by Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) that would have decriminalized the display of small amounts of marijuana. While possessing small amounts of marijuana is legal in the state, showing it to a police officer is not legal. Ultimately, Republicans were able to defeat the measure.[6]
Elections
2012
- See also: New York State Senate elections, 2012
Maziarz ran in the 2012 election for New York State Senate District 62. He defeated Johnny G. Destino in the Republican primary on September 13, 2012. He also ran on the Conservative Party and Independence Party of New York State tickets. Maziarz defeated Amy Hope Witryol (D) and Jonathon B. Benedict (G) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[7][8][9]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  George Maziarz Incumbent |
61.4% | 69,359 | |
| Democratic | Amy Hope Witryol | 37.6% | 42,508 | |
| Green | Jonathon B. Benedict | 1% | 1,127 | |
| Total Votes | 112,994 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
George Maziarz Incumbent |
69.1% | 6,905 |
| Johnny Destino | 31% | 3,095 |
| Total Votes | 10,000 | |
2010
- See also: New York State Senate elections, 2010
Maziarz ran in the 2010 election for New York State Senate District 62. He was unopposed in the September 14 Republican primary. He defeated Amy Hope Witryol (D) in the November 2 general election.[10][11][12]
| New York State Senate, General Election Results, District 62 (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| George Maziarz (R)
|
59,097 | |||
| Amy Hope Witryol (D) | 28,386 | |||
2008
- See also: New York State Senate elections, 2008
On November 4, 2008, George Maziarz won the election for New York State Senate, District 62 with 78,798 votes.[13][14]
Maziarz raised $746,782 for his campaign.[15]
| New York State Senate, District 62 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| George Maziarz (R)
|
78,798 | |||
| Brian Grear (D) | 36,694 | |||
Campaign finance summary
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Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
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2014
In 2014, the 200th New York State Legislature, second annual session, was in session from January 8 to June 19, 2014.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on legislation concerning businesses, jobs, and the economy.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- EPL/Environmental Advocates: 2014 Environmental Scorecard
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business in New York: 2013-2014 Voting Record
- Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the 200th New York State Legislature, first annual session, was in session from January 9 to December 31.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the 199th New York State Legislature, second annual session, was in session from January 4 to June 22, 2012.
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2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the 199th New York State Legislature, first annual session, was in session from January 5 to June 20, 2011.
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Maziarz and his wife, Beverly, have two children.
Recent news
This section displays the most recent stories in a Google News search for the term "George + Maziarz + New York + Senate"
- All stories may not be relevant to this legislator due to the nature of the search engine.
See also
- New York State Senate
- Senate Committees
- New York State Legislature
- New York state legislative districts
External links
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1998
Footnotes
- ↑ NY Daily News, "GOP State Sen. George Maziarz won't run for re-election," July 15, 2014
- ↑ Vote Smart, George Maziarz's Biography," accessed November 6, 2023
- ↑ The Buffalo News, "Cuomo taking to TV to sell his budget plan," January 23, 2013
- ↑ New York State Senate, "Senate Republicans call on Governor Cuomo to remove utility tax surcharge extension from executive budget," February 5, 2013
- ↑ Empire State Center for New York Policy, "“No new taxes”? Not so fast," January 31, 2013
- ↑ New York Times, "Divide in Albany Kills Proposal on Marijuana," June 19, 2012
- ↑ State of New York, State Board of Elections, "Candidate List for the September 13, 2012, State Primary Election," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑ State of New York, State Board of Elections, "Official September 13, 2012, Primary Results," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑ State of New York, State Board of Elections, "Official Senate Election Returns Nov. 6, 2012," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑ New York Times, "NY state legislative election results," accessed February 11, 2014
- ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "Official Primary results from September 14, 2010," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "Official Primary results from September 14, 2010," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "Official Primary results from September 9, 2008," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "Official Senate Election Returns November 4, 2008," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Report on George's 2008 campaign contributions," accessed July 31, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
New York State Senate District 62 1995–January 1, 2015 |
Succeeded by Robert Ortt (R) |
