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Shauna O'Toole

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This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Shauna O'Toole
Image of Shauna O'Toole

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments
Last election

November 3, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

State University of New York, Brockport, 1980

Graduate

Rochester Institute of Technology, 1995

Contact

Campaign Twitter

Personal Facebook

Personal Twitter

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Shauna O'Toole (Democratic Party) ran for election to the New York State Senate to represent District 54. She lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

O'Toole completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Shauna O'Toole earned a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Brockport in 1980 and a master’s degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1995. O'Toole’s career experience includes working as a physical scientist, science teacher, writer, activist, and public speaker. She has also served as a character development instructor through the Chaplain Corps of the Civil Air Patrol.[1]

Elections

2020

See also: New York State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for New York State Senate District 54

Incumbent Pamela Helming defeated Shauna O'Toole in the general election for New York State Senate District 54 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Pamela Helming
Pamela Helming (R / Conservative Party / Independence Party / Serve America Movement Party)
 
63.8
 
91,262
Image of Shauna O'Toole
Shauna O'Toole (D) Candidate Connection
 
36.2
 
51,782
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.0
 
42

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 143,086
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Shauna O'Toole advanced from the Democratic primary for New York State Senate District 54.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Pamela Helming advanced from the Republican primary for New York State Senate District 54.

Conservative Party primary election

The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent Pamela Helming advanced from the Conservative Party primary for New York State Senate District 54.

Independence Party primary election

The Independence Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent Pamela Helming advanced from the Independence Party primary for New York State Senate District 54.

Serve America Movement Party primary election

The Serve America Movement Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent Pamela Helming advanced from the Serve America Movement Party primary for New York State Senate District 54.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Shauna O'Toole completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by O'Toole's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

I have worked in the Physical Sciences most of my life, including as a science teacher. I consider myself Working Class and will go to Albany to represent the People of rural New York State.
  • Farmers find their backs to the wall. We need to help Farmers keep their land and pass it on to their children.
  • Not all students want to go to college. We need to help students who want to work in the trades succeed. We need to work with Unions to help them find positions in their trades. The Trades and Small Businesses are the backbone of the Middle Class.
  • What the Covid-19 Pandemic has shown is that we need healthcare for all New Yorkers. No one should have to choose between feeding their children or buying necessary medicines.
Civil Rights and Equality. It was only in 2019 when I finally became fully protected through the Gender Expression Non Discrimination Act. We need to recognize that the political/judicial system favors people who are White, Cisgender, and Heterosexual. We need equal protection for all People regardless of Race, National Origin, Sexual Orientation, Gender Expression/Identity, and Ability.
John Adams - both the book and the mini-series.
The ability to listen to your constituents. You might not agree, but you need to hear what is being said and why it is being said. Your constituents may not agree with their representative's stand. However, knowing that you are being heard, is the first step in respect.
I can best answer with this quote:

"Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgement; and he betrays you instead of serving you if he sacrifices it to your opinion." -Edmund Burke, Speech to the Electors of Bristol, November 3, 1774
The assassination of John F. Kennedy. I was just shy of 6 years old. Specifically, I remember the solemn funeral procession through Washington D.C. As the horse-drawn carriage carrying the President's casket rolled by, I remember seeing John Jr. salute his father's casket. In hindsight, I think that was when it started to sink in that service to country can come at a heavy price.
Starship Trooper by Robert Heinlein. The book is actually focused on what Citizenship means. Basically, Citizenship means that requires the understanding that the good of the many outweighs the needs of the few.
Finding my voice. That started in earnest 22 August 2008. Since then, I have found a backbone and a voice. I found a strength that I never had before. I have been coast to coast sharing my story and wrote a book about it. (You Can't Shave In A Minimart Bathroom)

What I have found is that not everyone can understand what it means to be lesbian and transgender. However, almost everyone can relate to finding your Authentic self. When you find a point where people can relate, then understanding and acceptance can begin.
The Assembly represents more of a county as opposed to the State Senate which can represent multiple counties. The State Senate has to be a n average over a larger area than the Assembly.
Beneficial, yes. Essential, no. What is more important than previous experience is the dedication to service. I would call myself a citizen politician as opposed to a professional politician. I see things that need to happen, and I want to go to Albany to make these changes, Afterwards, I will leave office and let others have the same opportunity.
Recovering from Covid-19. This pandemic has stressed the budget and every infrastructure of New York State. It will take years to recover.
Government is all about negotiation and compromise. The governor and legislature may not agree, but there should be discussion to find a mid-ground.
Absolutely!! No one person has all the answers - or even questions. We need to work together to help New York move forward.
I would like to see a non-partisan committee create district lines based on neighborhoods as opposed to keeping one political party in control.
Both Education and Science/Technology would fit with my past experiences.
Eventually, perhaps. Initially, I will be busy getting my feet on the ground so I do my best for my District and State.
Harry Bronson is a present representative in the NY Assembly. He is honest, respected, and a steadfast proponent of Equality.
I don't see that happening.
When I was first throwing my hat into the ring, I talked about how farms are facing an eight year high in foreclosures. We don't need another housing tract. Rather, we need to keep local farms going. I pressed that farmers need grants and low-interest loans so that they can stay solvent. The state government needs to buy excess produce for distribution to struggling families. Once I finished, I had the wife of a farmer come over to talk. She was almost in tears because I was the first politician she had heard put Farmers at the top of the list of objectives.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2020 Elections

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Footnotes

  1. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 9, 2020


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