Michael A. Montesano (born October 16, 1954) is member of the New York State Assembly representing the 15th district, which includes portions of the towns of Hempstead,

North Hempstead North Hempstead is one of three towns in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 237,639 at the 2020 census. History The area was first settled by Europeans around 1643 and became part of the town of Hemps ...

and Oyster Bay in Nassau County on Long Island. A

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

, he was initially elected in a 2010 special election. Montesano was born in

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

and grew up in the Gravesend neighborhood. He attended Saints Simon & Jude Elementary School before graduating from William E. Grady High School in 1973. He later worked for the Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority, before becoming a dispatcher and with the New York City

Emergency Medical Service Emergency medical services (EMS), also known as ambulance services or paramedic services, are emergency services that provide urgent pre-hospital treatment and stabilisation for serious illness and injuries and transport to definitive care. ...

in 1974, where he was eventually promoted to a supervising EMT. In 1979, Montesano moved to

Glen Head, New York Glen Head is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) located within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. It is considered part of the greater Glen Cove area, which is anchored ...

, and became a police officer in the

New York City Police Department The New York City Police Department (NYPD), officially the City of New York Police Department, established on May 23, 1845, is the primary municipal law enforcement agency within the City of New York, the largest and one of the oldest in ...

in 1981, later being promoted to detective. In 1983, Montesano received an A.A.S. degree in Police Science from Nassau County Community College and later a

B.S. A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University ...

degree in Criminal Justice from St. John's University. In 1989 he earned his law degree ( J.D.) from the

City University of New York School of Law The City University of New York School of Law (CUNY School of Law) is a public law school in New York City. It was founded in 1983 as part of the City University of New York. CUNY School of Law was established as a public interest law school ...

at Queens College and was admitted to the

New York State Bar Association The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) is a voluntary bar association for the state of New York. The mission of the association is to cultivate the science of jurisprudence; promote reform in the law; facilitate the administration of justic ...

. Montesano started a private practice law firm in 1990. He has served as Acting Village Justice and a Village Prosecutor for Roslyn Harbor. He has also been President of the North Shore School District Board of Education, and adjunct professor at the New York Institute of Technology. After losing a close election for the Nassau County Legislature in 2009, in February 2010 he won a special election to replace Assembly Rob Walker, who vacated the seat after being named Deputy County Executive of Nassau County. Since then, he has won reelection five times. Montesano faced his closest election ever in 2018, when he defeated Democrat Allen Foley 53% to 47%. Montesano has two grown children and resides in

with his wife Donna and her two children.

References

External links

New York State Assembly website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Montesano, Michael A. 1954 births Living people Republican Party members of the New York State Assembly People from Gravesend, Brooklyn People from Glen Head, New York People from Roslyn Harbor, New York 21st-century American politicians Nassau Community College alumni St. John's University (New York City) alumni CUNY School of Law alumni