Michael A. Montesano (born October 16, 1954) was member of the

New York State Assembly The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, with the New York State Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly. Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits. The Ass ...

representing the 15th district, which includes portions of the towns of Hempstead, North Hempstead and Oyster Bay in Nassau County on

Long Island Long Island is a densely populated continental island in southeastern New York (state), New York state, extending into the Atlantic Ocean. It constitutes a significant share of the New York metropolitan area in both population and land are ...

. A Republican, he was initially elected in a 2010 special election. Since 2022 he has served as a district judge of Nassau County.

Early life

Montesano was born in

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

and grew up in the

Gravesend Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, situated 21 miles (35 km) east-southeast of Charing Cross (central London) on the Bank (geography), south bank of the River Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. Located in the diocese of Roche ...

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, pre-hospital care or paramedic services, are emergency services that provide urgent pre-hospital treatment and stabilisation for serious illness and injuries and transport to ...

in 1974, where he was eventually promoted to a supervising EMT. In 1979, Montesano moved to Glen Head, New York, and became a police officer in the

New York City Police Department The City of New York Police Department, also referred to as New York City Police Department (NYPD), is the primary law enforcement agency within New York City. Established on May 23, 1845, the NYPD is the largest, and one of the oldest, munic ...

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. degree in Criminal Justice from St. John's University. In 1989 he earned his

Juris Doctor A Juris Doctor, Doctor of Jurisprudence, or Doctor of Law (JD) is a graduate-entry professional degree that primarily prepares individuals to practice law. In the United States and the Philippines, it is the only qualifying law degree. Other j ...

from the City University of New York School of Law 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 justice ...

. 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 The New York Institute of Technology (NYIT or New York Tech) is a Private university, private research university, research university founded in 1955. It has two main campuses in New York (state), New York—one in Old Westbury, on Long I ...

Political career

State Assembly

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%.

District Judge

Montesano refused to seek re-election in 2022, instead seeking election as a District Judge for Nassau County, successfully winning the election.

Personal life

Montesano has two grown children and resides in Glen Head, New York 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 Nassau Community College alumni St. John's University (New York City) alumni CUNY School of Law alumni 21st-century members of the New York State Legislature