Joseph Morelle

Joseph D. Morelle
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 132nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 1, 1991
Preceded by	Audre T. "Pinny" Cooke
Personal details
Born	(1957-04-29) April 29, 1957[1] Utica, New York[2]
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Mary Beth[2]
Children	three[2]
Residence	Irondequoit, New York[2]
Alma mater	SUNY Geneseo[2]
Profession	politician
Website	Official website

Joseph D. "Joe" Morelle (born April 29, 1957)^[1] is a member of the New York State Assembly representing the 136th Assembly District, which includes eastern portions of the City of Rochester and the Monroe County suburbs of Irondequoit and Brighton. He is the majority leader of the New York State Assembly.

Early years

Morelle was born in Utica, New York, and grew up in the town of Irondequoit where he attended Eastridge High School.^[2] He went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in political science from SUNY Geneseo^[2] in 1986.^[1]

He lives in Irondequoit with his wife, Mary Beth.^[2] They have three children:^[2] Lauren, Joseph Junior, Nicholas.^[1]

In his early years, he was a sales manager for a drycleaning and laundry business.^[3]

County legislature

Morelle, a Democrat, made his first foray into politics at the age of 24 when he ran for a seat in the Monroe County legislature.^[4] He failed to unseat the incumbent on the first try, but prevailed in the 1983 election.^[5] He was re-elected once before running for the New York State legislature.^[6]

State legislature

Morelle was first elected to the State Assembly in 1990.^[2] He ran uncontested in the November 2008 general election^[7][8] and won the November 2010 general election with 61 percent of the vote.^[9][10]

During his tenure in the State Legislature, among the more than 75 laws authored by Morelle are major reforms to the workers compensation system, laws to require carbon monoxide detectors in one- and two-family homes, toughen regulations governing charitable organizations, protect the elderly and ill who live in nursing homes or receive home based health care, and increased senior citizens' real property tax exemption. Morelle has sponsored bills to exempt veterans from certain state licensing fees, protect their gravesites and assist them with regard to the civil service application process.

In January 2001, Morelle was appointed the Chairman of the Assembly Standing Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Sports Development. He worked with area leaders to develop Rochester as a center for tourism and the arts in Western New York.^{[citation needed]}

In addition to the Tourism Committee, Morelle’s standing committee assignments include Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry; Higher Education; Local Governments; and Libraries and Education Technology. At his request, the Speaker created the Subcommittee on Manufacturing in order to give New York’s manufacturing sector a greater voice in state government.

In 2005, Morelle issued a report, “Creating a State of Innovation: Unleashing The Power of New York’s Entrepreneurial Economy,” detailing New York’s economic decline, particularly in Upstate, and offering numerous policy recommendations to reverse this years-long trend.

In 2005, Morelle was elected chairman of the Monroe County Democratic Committee.^[11]

Election Controversy

According to The Buffalo News article titled "Rochester Assemblyman is Offered Plea Bargain,"

In 1991, Joseph Morelle was charged 7 misdemeanor counts for violating state elections laws by obtaining signatures for an election petition during his 1990 run for State Assembly. He was offered a plea to disorderly conduct on two counts. The signatures were for an Independent Party endorsement when he ran against Republican Mark S. Ogden.

Morelle has never contested that he obtained the signatures in question fraudulently. A judge from the State Supreme Court ruled that he was in violation of election law, but was allowed to run on the Independent Party ballot.^[12]

In January 1992, The Buffalo News reported in its article "Lawmaker Pleads Guilty to Campaign Violations,"

Assemblyman Joseph Morelle pleaded guilty to two charges of disorderly conduct, an offer given to him by the Monroe County District Attorney Howard R. Relin. By pleading guilty, Morelle will not have a criminal record.^[13]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Joseph Morelle.

• New York State Assembly member website
• Personal website