Nicole Malliotakis

Nicole Malliotakis
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 64th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 2013
Preceded by	Sheldon Silver
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 60th district
In office 2011–2012
Preceded by	Janele Hyer-Spencer
Succeeded by	Inez Barron
Personal details
Born	(1980-11-11) November 11, 1980[1][2] New York City, New York, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Residence	Rosebank, Staten Island, New York
Alma mater	Seton Hall University Wagner College
Profession	Legislator
Religion	Greek Orthodox
Website	Official website

Nicole Malliotakis (born November 11, 1980)^[1][2] is a Republican politician from New York City who represents parts of Brooklyn and Staten Island in the New York State Assembly. She is the first Hispanic-American to win elected office to any district that encompasses Staten Island.^[3] She is one of the first two Greek-American women elected to office in New York.^[4][5]

Education and background

Malliotakis is the daughter of immigrant parents who were also small business owners. Her mother is an immigrant from Cuba, who fled her homeland in 1959 to escape the oppression of the newly formed regime of Fidel Castro. Her father is an immigrant from Greece.

Raised in her father's Greek Orthodox faith, Ms. Malliotakis grew up in Great Kills, Staten Island. She attended local public schools and graduated from New Dorp High School in 1998, where she served as class president.^[6]

The first in her family to attend college, Malliotakis went on to receive a B.A. in communications from Seton Hall University and a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from Wagner College.^[7]

Early Career and Election

Malliotakis worked as a Community Liaison for both former state senator John Marchi (2003–2004) and former governor George Pataki (2004–2006). Prior to her election, Malliotakis also worked on state energy policy as the public affairs manager for Consolidated Edison Company of New York.^[7]

In 2010, Malliotakis won the election to represent the 60th District in the New York State Assembly. She defeated two-term Democratic incumbent Janele Hyer-Spencer by a margin of 10 percentage points.^[8]

Upon being elected to the Assembly, Malliotakis became the first Greek-American woman elected to office in New York State, the first Cuban-American woman elected to office in New York State, and the first person of Hispanic descent elected from Staten Island. She is the only Republican woman elected to any office or district that encompasses New York City.

Legislative career

Committee Assignments as of 2012:

• Aging
• Banks
• Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions
• Governmental Employees (ranking minority member)^[9]
• Transportation^[10]

She has made the rights of senior citizens a hallmark of her tenure and has successfully fought to keep senior centers in Brooklyn and Staten Island from being closed.^[11]

Another priority of Assemblywoman Malliotakis has been the restoration of MTA bus service in her district.^[12][13] She also held a series of forums with regard to the MTA Payroll Mobility Tax and its negative impact on small businesses, non-profit organizations, and private schools.^[14] The Legislature and Governor Andrew Cuomo subsequently enacted significant repeals.^[15]

She has been at the forefront of the fight for relief from the September 2011 toll increase on Port Authority bridges,^[16] calling for divestment of costly non-essential real estate holdings and highlighting mismanaged contributions to community organizations.^[17] In October 2011 she submitted an amicus brief in support of the American Automobile Association lawsuit against the Port Authority in federal court, arguing that the toll increases were illegal,^[18] and is currently engaged in an Article 78 proceeding to compel the Port Authority to disclose the results of an economic impact study regarding the effect the toll increases have had on business at New York Container Terminal.^[19]

During her first year in the Assembly, Assemblywoman Malliotakis has received numerous awards and recognition including being named a 'Rising Star' by Capitol News, Home Reporter News,^[20] the Hispanic Coalition of New York,^[21] and the Greek America Foundation.^[22] She has also been named a 'Top Ranking Pro Jobs Supporter' by The Business Council of New York State.^[23]

She is single and resides in Rosebank, Staten Island.^[24]

References

External links

• Government Site
• Campaign Site