Tom O'Mara

American politician

Tom O'Mara
O'Mara in 2014

Member of the New York State Senate from the 58th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 1, 2013
Preceded by	Timothy M. Kennedy (redistricting)
Member of the New York Senate from the 53rd district
In office January 1, 2011 – December 31, 2012
Preceded by	George H. Winner, Jr.
Succeeded by	David J. Valesky
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 137th district
In office January 1, 2005 – December 31, 2010
Preceded by	George H. Winner, Jr.
Succeeded by	Christopher Friend

Personal details
Born	(1963-05-31) May 31, 1963 (age 61)^[1] Elmira, New York, U.S.^[1]
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Marilyn^[2]
Children	3^[2]
Residence(s)	Big Flats, New York, U.S.^[2]
Alma mater	Catholic University of America Syracuse University College of Law^[2]
Profession	lawyer, politician
Website	Official website

Thomas F. O'Mara (born May 31, 1963) is a member of the New York State Senate, serving a district in the Southern Tier of New York since 2010. The district is currently numbered the 58th district. O'Mara is a Republican.

Prior to serving in the Senate, O'Mara represented the 137th district of the New York State Assembly from 2005 to 2010.

Background

O'Mara was raised in Horseheads, New York. He received his bachelor's degree from Catholic University of America and later a Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law. He worked as an Assistant District Attorney and County Attorney in Chemung County before becoming the Chemung County District Attorney.^[3]

He was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 2004 and represented the 137th Assembly District, which comprised all of Chemung and Schuyler County and portions of Tioga County. He served three two-year terms in the Assembly.^[4]

He is a member of the law firm Davidson & O'Mara in Elmira. He and his wife Marilyn have three children Thomas, Catherine and Caroline and reside in Big Flats, New York.^[5]

New York Senate

In 2010, O'Mara was first elected to represent the 53rd District in the New York State Senate after surviving a strong primary challenge from fellow Assemblyman James Bacalles. He defeated Democrat Pamela Mackesey in the general election and took office in January 2011.

In 2011, O'Mara voted against allowing same-sex marriage during the senate roll-call vote on the Marriage Equality Act, which the Senate narrowly passed 33-29 legalizing same-sex marriage.^[6]

Since his initial election in 2010, O'Mara has never faced a serious re-election, running unopposed in 2012 and 2014. His closest election came in 2016, when he defeated Democrat Leslie Danks-Burke 55% to 45%. He easily won re-election again in 2018.^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b "Legislative Preview: Meet The New Members". The Capitol. Manhattan Media. January 6, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2011.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Thomas F. O'Mara: Biography". New York State Senate. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
^ "O'Mara, Thomas F. - Barclay Damon LLP". barclaydamon.com. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
^ Reynolds, Nick. "Ithaca's State Senator tweeted the definition of the word 'penis' to somebody to prove a point". Ithaca Times. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
^ "The politics, policies and past of Tom O'Mara, the Ithaca-area's NY State Senator". The Ithaca Voice. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
^ "NY State Assembly Bill A8354". 3 October 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
^ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Thomas F. O'Mara". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2019-02-06.

External links

Official New York State Senate Website
Tom O'Mara For New York Official campaign website.

New York State Assembly
Preceded by George H. Winner, Jr.	New York State Assembly, 137th District 2005–2010	Succeeded by Christopher Friend
New York State Senate
Preceded by George H. Winner, Jr.	New York State Senate, 53rd District 2011–2012	Succeeded by David J. Valesky
Preceded by Timothy M. Kennedy	New York State Senate, 58th District 2013–present	Incumbent