Anthony Masiello
Encyclopedia
Anthony M. Masiello was mayor of Buffalo, New York from 1994 to 2005. Prior to being mayor, he served as a New York State Senator.
native, who was educated in Buffalo Catholic schools, Anthony Masiello graduated from Canisius College
in 1969 after a Hall of Fame career as a basketball standout for the Division I Golden Griffins. The Indiana Pacers
subsequently drafted him in the National Basketball Association
's third round.
. He was subsequently elected to an at-large seat on the Council and served as Democratic
Majority leader in 1976. He also served as Chairman of the Council Finance Committee.
Masiello then entered the New York State Senate
in 1980 and was re-elected to seven two-year terms (55th District 1981-82, 58th District 1983-92, 57th District 1993). Masiello's original Senate district encompassed mainly Buffalo and other parts of Erie County, New York
. During the final year of his Senate service, his district encompassed Buffalo, Tonawanda, New York
, Grand Island, New York
, and Niagara Falls, New York
. In the State Senate, Mayor Masiello ascended to Minority Whip and served as Chair of the Democratic Conference. As a senator, Masiello served as the Ranking Minority Member of various committees, including the Child Care Committee and the Energy Committee.
but was significantly more conservative
than the mainstream Democratic Party platform. In 1998 and 2002 he endorsed Republican
Gov. George Pataki
for reelection.
In November 2003 he spoke at the grand opening of the new Scientology
Org, reading from a speech written by the church, declaring that day "Church of Scientology in Buffalo day". He also authorized the pamphlet The Way to Happiness
, a pamphlet written by The Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard
offering a moral code consistent with the teachings of Scientology, to be printed with his picture, a personal endorsement of its contents, as well as the city seal.
As mayor, he focused on economic development, governmental restructuring, and education. He cut over 1,000 jobs from the city payroll by restructuring management and the police department. He successfully sought approval from the state to create a joint construction fund for the city schools, which has been used to renovate and build city schools. He unsuccessfully sought to take control of the Buffalo Board of Education
and install his own appointees. This is unlike Mayor Michael Bloomberg
of New York City
who won this authority.
During his third term, an audit discovered that $92 million was missing from the city treasury with no explanation on where the money went. Masiello worked to restructure city finances in order to combat the shortfall. His efforts included various cuts to programs, including in education. This caused elementary school students to picket City Hall demanding the restoration of the cuts. Following this the state imposed a Fiscal Control Board on the City of Buffalo in order to monitor its finances and control certain aspects of finance and budgets. Masiello worked with the Control Board to create a long term financial plan.
and honorary degrees from Medaille College
in Buffalo and Canisius College.
as mayor on December 31, 2005. Following his service as mayor, Masiello has joined a political consulting and lobbying firm located in Buffalo. He has also announced that he is considering converting the remaining $1 million in his campaign treasury into a charity.
Personal and Educational Background
A BuffaloBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
native, who was educated in Buffalo Catholic schools, Anthony Masiello graduated from Canisius College
Canisius College
Canisius College is a private Roman Catholic college in Buffalo, New York, United States. The college was founded in 1870 by members of the Society of Jesus from Germany and is named after St. Peter Canisius. The college is one of 28 institutions in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and...
in 1969 after a Hall of Fame career as a basketball standout for the Division I Golden Griffins. The Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
subsequently drafted him in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
's third round.
Political Career Prior to Being Mayor
In 1971, Anthony Masiello began his career in elective office when he was elected as a district representative to the Buffalo Common CouncilBuffalo Common Council
The Buffalo Common Council is the legislative branch of the Buffalo, New York City Government. It is a representative assembly, with one elected member from each of nine districts: Niagara, Delaware, Masten, Ellicott, Lovejoy, Fillmore, North, University, and South. In the past, the Common...
. He was subsequently elected to an at-large seat on the Council and served as Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Majority leader in 1976. He also served as Chairman of the Council Finance Committee.
Masiello then entered the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
in 1980 and was re-elected to seven two-year terms (55th District 1981-82, 58th District 1983-92, 57th District 1993). Masiello's original Senate district encompassed mainly Buffalo and other parts of Erie County, New York
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
. During the final year of his Senate service, his district encompassed Buffalo, Tonawanda, New York
Tonawanda, New York
Tonawanda may refer to:*Glacial Lake Tonawanda*North Tonawanda, New York, a city in Niagara County, north across Tonawanda Creek from the City and Town*Tonawanda , New York, consisting of the Town of Tonawanda less the Village of Kenmore...
, Grand Island, New York
Grand Island, New York
Grand Island is a town and an island in Erie County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the town population is 20,374. This represents an increase of 9.41% from the 2000 census figure . The current town name derives from the French name La Grande Île, as Grand Island is the largest island in...
, and Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
. In the State Senate, Mayor Masiello ascended to Minority Whip and served as Chair of the Democratic Conference. As a senator, Masiello served as the Ranking Minority Member of various committees, including the Child Care Committee and the Energy Committee.
Mayor of Buffalo
Anthony M. Masiello was sworn in as the 57th Mayor of the city of Buffalo on January 1, 1994. Anthony Masiello received 65% of the Democratic Primary vote and 67% of the General Election vote in 1993. The Mayor was re-elected to second term in 1997 and a third term in 2001 with the joint endorsement of the Democratic and Republican parties. Much like his predecessor, James D. Griffin, Masiello was a registered DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
but was significantly more conservative
American conservatism
Conservatism in the United States has played an important role in American politics since the 1950s. Historian Gregory Schneider identifies several constants in American conservatism: respect for tradition, support of republicanism, preservation of "the rule of law and the Christian religion", and...
than the mainstream Democratic Party platform. In 1998 and 2002 he endorsed Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Gov. George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
for reelection.
In November 2003 he spoke at the grand opening of the new Scientology
Scientology
Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction and fantasy author L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics...
Org, reading from a speech written by the church, declaring that day "Church of Scientology in Buffalo day". He also authorized the pamphlet The Way to Happiness
The Way to Happiness
The Way to Happiness is a 1980 booklet written by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard listing 21 moral precepts, and distributed by The Way to Happiness Foundation International, a Scientology-related non-profit organization founded in 1984....
, a pamphlet written by The Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard
L. Ron Hubbard
Lafayette Ronald Hubbard , better known as L. Ron Hubbard , was an American pulp fiction author and religious leader who founded the Church of Scientology...
offering a moral code consistent with the teachings of Scientology, to be printed with his picture, a personal endorsement of its contents, as well as the city seal.
As mayor, he focused on economic development, governmental restructuring, and education. He cut over 1,000 jobs from the city payroll by restructuring management and the police department. He successfully sought approval from the state to create a joint construction fund for the city schools, which has been used to renovate and build city schools. He unsuccessfully sought to take control of the Buffalo Board of Education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
and install his own appointees. This is unlike Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
who won this authority.
During his third term, an audit discovered that $92 million was missing from the city treasury with no explanation on where the money went. Masiello worked to restructure city finances in order to combat the shortfall. His efforts included various cuts to programs, including in education. This caused elementary school students to picket City Hall demanding the restoration of the cuts. Following this the state imposed a Fiscal Control Board on the City of Buffalo in order to monitor its finances and control certain aspects of finance and budgets. Masiello worked with the Control Board to create a long term financial plan.
Family life
Mayor Masiello is the oldest of seven children born to Bridget and Dan Masiello. He is married to the former Kathleen McCue of Washingtonville, NY. He is the father of Kimberly, Ariel and Madeline Rose. He holds a Bachelor's degree from Canisius CollegeCanisius College
Canisius College is a private Roman Catholic college in Buffalo, New York, United States. The college was founded in 1870 by members of the Society of Jesus from Germany and is named after St. Peter Canisius. The college is one of 28 institutions in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and...
and honorary degrees from Medaille College
Medaille College
Medaille College a private liberal arts college located in the historic Olmsted Crescent of Buffalo, New York, that draws extensively from the Western New York and Southern Ontario regions. It is a private, nonsectarian, co-educational institution.-History:...
in Buffalo and Canisius College.
Retirement as Mayor
In 2005, he announced he was not running for re-election. He was succeeded by Byron BrownByron Brown
Byron William Brown II is the 58th and current mayor of Buffalo, New York, elected on November 8, 2005 and is the city's first African-American mayor. He previously served Western New York as a member of the New York State Senate and Buffalo Common Council...
as mayor on December 31, 2005. Following his service as mayor, Masiello has joined a political consulting and lobbying firm located in Buffalo. He has also announced that he is considering converting the remaining $1 million in his campaign treasury into a charity.