| Nicholas A. Spano | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New York Senate from the 35th district |
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| In office 1987–2006 |
|
| Preceded by | John E. Flynn |
| Succeeded by | Andrea Stewart-Cousins |
| Member of the New York State Assembly 87th District (1979–1982) 83rd District (1983–1986) |
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| In office 1979–1986 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 1953 (age 58–59)[1][2] |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Linda[1] |
| Children | Two[1] |
| Residence | Yonkers, New York[1] |
| Alma mater | Iona College |
| Profession | Politician, commercial real estate agent, lobbyist |
| Website | http://www.empireplanning.com/ |
Nicholas A. Spano (born 1953)[1][2] is best known as a New York Republican politician, who represented Yonkers and surrounding areas in the New York State Senate from 1986 to 2006. During his state senate career he served on the Rules, Transportation, Finance, Education, Health, and Racing, Gaming, and Wagering committees, chaired the Senate Investigations Committee,as was the Senior Assistant Majority Leader.
In 2004, Spano won re-election by only 18 votes after facing a serious challenge by Westchester County Legislator Andrea Stewart-Cousins.[3] During his run for re-election in 2006, Stewart-Cousins ran against him again, this time with the support of Democrats Bill Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Eliot Spitzer, David Paterson and Andrew Cuomo, she won;[3] he conceded defeat on November 16, 2006.
Spano subsequently become involved in commercial real estate[4][5] as well as lobbying state and local governments in New York through Empire Strategic Planning, a firm he established after his defeat.[6]
Spano's paternal grandfather, also named Nicholas, immigrated with two brothers from the Italian province of Bari to the United States in 1918.[2] Spano's father Leonard ran for public office in 1967, employing his son Nicholas in door-to-door campaigning.[2] After losing in 1967, Leonard became a state legislator in 1971, an office he held until 1993 when he was elected to the job of Westchester county clerk.[2]
Spano grew up in Yonkers as the oldest of 16 children of Leonard and Josephine Spano;[1] He is a graduate of Iona College in New Rochelle, New York. He and his wife Linda reside in Yonkers.[1] They have two children, Lenny and Christina.[1]
| New York Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Thomas McInerney |
New York State Assembly, 87th District 1979–1982 |
Succeeded by Peter Sullivan |
| Preceded by George Friedman |
New York State Assembly, 83rd District 1983–1986 |
Succeeded by Terrence Zaleski |
| New York State Senate | ||
| Preceded by John E. Flynn |
New York State Senate, 35th District 1987–2006 |
Succeeded by Andrea Stewart-Cousins |