Louis Tobacco

Louis R. Tobacco[1] (born May 16, 1972)[2] is an American politician from New York. A Republican, he represented Staten Island's 62nd District as a Member of the New York State Assembly from 2007 through 2012.

Lou Tobacco
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 62nd district
In office March 2007 – December 31, 2012
Preceded by	Vincent Ignizio
Succeeded by	Joseph Borelli
Personal details
Born	May 16, 1972 Staten Island, New York, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Jennifer
Children	four
Residence	Tottenville, Staten Island
Alma mater	Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy, SUNY Albany

Early life, education, and career

Born in Staten Island, Tobacco attended Public School 35, St. Joseph Hill Academy Grammar School, and Monsignor Farrell High School,[3] from which he graduated in 1990. He became an Eagle Scout in 1987.[4]

He graduated from the Rockefeller College of Politics at State University of New York at Albany;[3] while a student, he was an intern for State Assemblyman Robert Straniere and Congressman Guy Molinari as well as a summer intern for Molinari when he later served as Staten Island Borough president.[5] In 1994, he was appointed by the borough president to serve as assistant director of contract oversight. He also represented Staten Island on the Mayor's Health and Human Services Planning Council,[1] and was director of community relations from 1996 to 1997.[6]

After leaving Borough Hall, he worked part-time until 2010 as a pharmaceutical sales representative, for Novartis and then for Pfizer.[5][6]

After his retirement from the New York State Assembly in 2012, Tobacco worked for Staten Island University Hospital as director of surgical business development[7] and later as associate executive director of community and government affairs.[8] In 2019, he was appointed president and CEO of Monsignor Farrell High School.[6][8]

Political career

Tobacco's first run for political office was in 1996 for Staten Island's Mid-Island Assembly seat held by Assemblyman Eric Vitaliano. He was unsuccessful that year.[9]

Tobacco was elected to represent the 62nd District in the New York State Assembly in a special election on March 27, 2007 to replace Vincent Ignizio, who resigned his seat to become a New York City Councilmember.[10] He and fellow Staten Islander Nicole Malliotakis were the only Republicans in New York City's State Assembly delegation.

Tobacco served as the Ranking Minority Member of the Health Committee.[5] He also served on the Ways and Means, Transportation, Cities, Codes, and Corporations, Authorities and Commissions committees.[11] He was tapped to serve as vice chair of the Assembly Minority Sex Offender Watch Task Force and was appointed to the MTA Capital Program Review Board. He was known for his "Tobacco against tobacco" anti-smoking campaign[5][12][13] as well as for criticizing the rising toll on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and cuts to the mass transit budget for services to Staten Island residents; in winter 2009, he distributed thousands of "No Taxation Without Transportation" bumper stickers.[14]

He retired from the Assembly in 2012 after serving three terms.[5]

Personal life

Lou Tobacco lives in the Tottenville section of Staten Island; he and his wife, Jennifer, have four children.[3]

Election results

• March 2007 special election, NYS Assembly, 62nd AD[15]

Louis Tobacco (REP - ALBANY REFORM)	...	2,409
John S. Mulia (DEM - IND - CON)	...	1,008

• November 2008 general election, NYS Assembly, 62nd AD[16]

Lou Tobacco (REP - IND - CON)	...	30,410
Albert J. Albanese (DEM)	...	11,816

• November 2010 general election, NYS Assembly, 62nd AD[17]

Lou Tobacco (REP - IND - CON)	...	22,856
Albert J. Albanese (DEM)	...	6,179

References

1. "Louis Tobacco's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
2. "State Assembly: Louis Tobacco (R), District 62". Capitol Info. Archived from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
3. "Assembly District 62, Lou Tobacco: Biography". New York State Assembly. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
4. "Eagle Scout Honor Roll". Staten Island, NY: BSA Troop 37. Archived from the original on September 5, 2013.
5. Randall, Judy L. (January 3, 2019) [February 16, 2012]. "Assemblyman Lou Tobacco won't seek re-election". Staten Island Advance.
6. Jones Gorman, Jessica (August 13, 2019). "Former Assembly Member Lou Tobacco Takes on New Role at Monsignor Farrell High School". Staten Island Business Trends.
7. Randall, Judy L. (January 3, 2019) [March 26, 2012]. "Outgoing Assemblyman Lou Tobacco lands job with Staten Island University Hospital". Staten Island Advance.
8. Bascome, Erik (May 22, 2019). "Monsignor Farrell High School names Lou Tobacco president and CEO". Staten Island Advance.
9. "Results of Voting in New York Races for the State Legislature and the Courts". The New York Times. November 7, 1996. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
10. Hicks, Jonathan P. (March 28, 2007). "Staten Island Elects Its First Openly Gay Public Official". The New York Times.
11. Wrobleski, Tom (January 3, 2019) [January 13, 2011]. "South Shore assemblyman Lou Tobacco appointed ranking health committee member". Staten Island Advance.
12. Wrobleski, Tom (March 21, 2019) [February 15, 2008]. "Quit, buddy". Staten Island Advance.
13. Randall, Judy L. (January 3, 2019) [January 4, 2012]. "Fate of ex-prison site on Staten Island has first claim on Tobacco's attention". Staten Island Advance.
14. "With MTA cuts looming, Island pol orders more 'No Taxation Without Transportation' bumper stickers". Staten Island Advance. January 3, 2019 [December 17, 2009].
15. "Special Election Results, 62nd Assembly District: March 27, 2007" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. 2007. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
16. "General Election Results, State Assembly: November 4, 2008" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 4, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 23, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
17. "General Election Results, State Assembly: November 2, 2010" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. December 13, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2013. Retrieved April 13, 2011.

External links

• New York State Assembly: Louis Tobacco