As State Senator, Mike Nozzolio has been a strong advocate for the Finger Lakes Region.  While representing the 54th Senate District in the New York State Senate, Senator Nozzolio has fought to lower taxes, eliminate wasteful spending and create jobs for the residents of his Senate District. He strongly opposed and voted against Governor Paterson’s 2009 budget, which created over 100 new taxes and fees on local residents.

Senator Nozzolio has also led the fight for a constitutional cap on spending which would have prevented Governor Paterson’s unprecedented increase in taxes and spending from being adopted.

Senator Nozzolio has worked to restore balance and common sense to New York State government.  He has helped to create and retain thousands of jobs for the residents of his Senate District.  He was instrumental in recruiting companies like Guardian Glass as well as providing the state assistance necessary to keep Garlock Industries, Xerox, Gould’s Pumps, and others here in New York State. Senator Nozzolio is also responsible for helping to create over 1500 new jobs at the site of the former Seneca Army Depot in Seneca County.

Education and Military Service

While attending Mynderse Academy in Seneca Falls, Mike was an avid athlete, receiving honorable mention on the all-league football team as well as serving as captain of the Mynderse lacrosse team.  He went on to receive varsity letters in crew and sprint football in college at Cornell University.
Senator Nozzolio worked his way through college in order to get by on what his scholarships could not provide.  He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Labor Relations, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Agricultural Economics from Cornell University. Senator Nozzolio also earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Syracuse University College of Law.

Senator Nozzolio served as a JAG officer in the U.S. Naval Reserves and is currently a Commander in the New York Naval Militia.

Fighting for New York State

Prior to his election to the New York State Senate, Senator Nozzolio served for 10 years in the New York State Assembly representing Cayuga, Seneca and Wayne Counties. During his tenure in the Assembly, he was chosen to serve as Deputy Minority Leader. At the time, he was the youngest State legislator ever elected from his region.

Senator Nozzolio currently serves as the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which directly oversees all aspects of State policy. He is also the senior Senator representing the Monroe County delegation in the New York State Senate.

In 2008, Senator Nozzolio’s was re-elected with 72% of the District’s vote.  Senator Nozzolio has consistently fought for and achieved success for the people in he serves in the New York State Senate.  He was truly honored to receive such an overwhelming majority of support from his constituents.

Awards and Recognition

Senator Nozzolio was recently recognized by the Conservative Party of New York State as having the highest conservative score in the State Senate for his efforts to restore fiscal responsibility to New York State.

For his dedication to protecting the Finger Lakes and the environment, Senator Nozzolio was awarded with an honorary degree from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.  Senator Nozzolio has also been granted honorary membership by several local fire departments because of his support and advocacy for local emergency service providers.  

In recognition of his efforts in many different fields, Senator Nozzolio has received numerous awards throughout his tenure, including honors from the New York State Farm Bureau, New York Association of Convenience Stores (NYACS), New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, Boy Scouts of America, Remove Intoxicated Drivers (RID), Seneca County Chamber of Commerce, Finger Lakes Library Association Public Service Award, Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID), Finger Lakes Chapter of the Hearing Impaired, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, Sexual Assault Victims’ Advocate Resource (SAVAR), and the New York State Correction Officers.

In 2008, Senator Nozzolio was honored by the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services with the group’s “Public Policy Leadership Award” for sponsoring legislation to mandate alternative prison housing and treatment for prisoners with psychiatric disabilities, making prisons safer for inmates and correctional officers.

He was also named Legislator of the Year by the New York State Association for Behavior Analysis in recognition of his service and support of individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.   He also was recognized as the Citizen of the Year by Tyburn Academy.

Senator Nozzolio has also been awarded the Father Joseph P. Beatini Memorial Award and was the recipient of the prestigious Jerome Alpern Distinguished Alumni Award from the Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations, one of the highest honors that can be bestowed on a Cornell University alumnus.

Senator Nozzolio currently serves as a member of the Cornell University Council and on the Board of the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park. Senator Nozzolio also serves on the Board of Directors of the Martin P. Catherwood Library of the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University.

New York State

Senator Michael F. Nozzolio