Assemblyman Marc Butler 117th Assembly District
Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito 116th Assembly District
Assemblyman Dave Townsend 115th Assembly District
Assemblyman Bill Magee 111th Assembly District
Senator David Valesky 49th Senate District
Senator James T. Seward 51st Senate District |
Senator Joe Griffo
47th Senate District
944 Legislative Office Building
Albany, New York 12247
518-455-3334
207 Genesee Street
State Office Bldg.
Utica, New York 13501
315-793-9072
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A fiscal conservative, dedicated to
fighting for change, Joseph A. Griffo was elected Senator in the 47th
District in the fall of 2006. He represents New Yorkers in Oneida, Lewis
and St. Lawrence counties.
Prior to his election to the State Senate, Griffo served as the Oneida
County Executive. As County Executive, he played a principal role in the
negotiations and advocacy to protect the defense department related jobs
at the Griffis Business and Technology Park. His efforts resulted in an
increase of over 600 jobs, an unprecedented accomplishment in Base
Realignment and Closure Commission Hearings. Griffo also worked with his
fellow County Executives to push the state legislature to reform the
burdensome Medicaid program and develop an eight county coalition to
fight the development a power line across Upstate York. On a local
level, Griffo has worked to down-size county government and open the
lines of communication between elected leaders on all levels. His
efforts resulted in a one of a kind "Summit on Services" where leaders
from the public, private and education sectors discussed the proper way
to deliver taxpayer funded services. Griffo also worked to consolidate
public transportation in Oneida County and streamline the operation to
save it from elimination. He also implemented reverse-911 technology
that enabled the County Emergency Management Office to alert residents
in their homes in the event of a problem.
While serving as County Executive, Griffo was elected to the Board of
Directors of the New York State Association of Counties and was a member
of the New York State Law Enforcement Accreditation Council.
In 1991, Griffo was elected Mayor of his hometown, Rome, NY. He served
in that capacity for 11 years elected three times. As Mayor, the
majority of the budgets Griffo delivered held the line on property
taxes, while reforming government and delivering services to city
residents more efficiently. His progressive style of leadership
protected the local hospital from closure and helped to engineer an
economic recovery following the departure of the Griffis Air Force Base.
His work as Mayor garnered bi-partisan State and National attention.
Former Gov. George E. Pataki appointed Griffo to serve on a blue ribbon
panel on municipal lobbying and the state’s
Mohawk Valley Heritage Corridor Commission. He was appointed by former
New York State Comptroller H. Carl McCall to serve on the New York State
Comptroller’s Advisory Commission.
During his time as Mayor, Senator Griffo was elected to the Board of the
United States Conference of Mayors and the New York Conference of
Mayors, serving as president from 2000-2001. He was also co-chair of the
Amtrak Mayor’s Council
Griffo was first elected to public office in 1989, as an Oneida County
Legislator. As a County Legislator, he was appointed Parliamentarian to
the Legislature and was named the Vice Chairman of the Legislature’s
Planning Committee.
Prior to his election as mayor in 1991, Griffo served as director of
community relations for the City of Rome and as administrative assistant
to the mayor. He was also appointed to direct a senior citizen’s program
for the City of Rome. He began his career in public service by serving
an internship in the New York State Assembly under former Assemblyman
James Hurley.
A graduate of the Rome public school system, Griffo received a Bachelor
of Arts degree in Political Science with Magna Cum Laude distinction in
1978 from the State University of New York at Brockport.
Senator Griffo’s wife Lorraine is an elementary school teacher in the
Camden School District. They reside in Rome.
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