Paul Tokasz
Encyclopedia
Paul Tokasz represented District 143 in the New York State Assembly
, which comprises the towns of Lancaster, and Cheektowaga, and villages of Depew, Lancaster and Sloan, from 1988 to 2006.
Prior to entering politics, he was a public school teacher in the city of Buffalo, New York
, from 1968 to 1977.
Prior to his election to the New York State Assembly he served as First Deputy County Clerk in the Erie County
Clerk's Office, 1987–1988, and Deputy County Clerk overseeing the Erie County Auto Bureau, from 1977–1986, as well as Clerk of the Erie County Legislature in 1977.
Chosen in a special election held in 1988, Tokasz was the Democratic Majority Leader
of the Assembly from 2001, and served as a member of the Standing Committee on Rules. He had previously served as Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Tourism, and the Assembly Committee on Election Law during the 1995-1996 legislative sessions. A former member of Doyle Fire Company No. 2, Tokasz also served in the past as Chairman of the Assembly Subcommittee on on Volunteer Firefighters.
He left the Assembly in 2006 to become a lobbyist.
He holds a B.A. in History from Hobart College
in 1968 and M.A. in Education from Buffalo State College
.
Tokasz is, as of 2011, a lobbyist with Patricia Lynch Associates, where he works for current U.S. Representative Brian Higgins
.
His paternal grandmother's family (Czelusta) came to the United States in 1910 and 1912 from the (Hohensalza) Inowrocław area of Poland.
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
, which comprises the towns of Lancaster, and Cheektowaga, and villages of Depew, Lancaster and Sloan, from 1988 to 2006.
Prior to entering politics, he was a public school teacher in the city of Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, 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...
, from 1968 to 1977.
Prior to his election to the New York State Assembly he served as First Deputy County Clerk in the Erie County
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...
Clerk's Office, 1987–1988, and Deputy County Clerk overseeing the Erie County Auto Bureau, from 1977–1986, as well as Clerk of the Erie County Legislature in 1977.
Chosen in a special election held in 1988, Tokasz was the Democratic Majority Leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
of the Assembly from 2001, and served as a member of the Standing Committee on Rules. He had previously served as Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Tourism, and the Assembly Committee on Election Law during the 1995-1996 legislative sessions. A former member of Doyle Fire Company No. 2, Tokasz also served in the past as Chairman of the Assembly Subcommittee on on Volunteer Firefighters.
He left the Assembly in 2006 to become a lobbyist.
He holds a B.A. in History from Hobart College
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, located in Geneva, New York, are together a liberal arts college offering Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees. In athletics, however, the two schools compete with separate teams, known as the Hobart Statesmen and the...
in 1968 and M.A. in Education from Buffalo State College
Buffalo State College
The State University of New York College at Buffalo, referred to as Buffalo State College, often referred to colloquially as Buff State, is a public, liberal arts college in Buffalo, New York, United States and is part of the State University of New York. Buffalo State was founded in 1871 as the...
.
Tokasz is, as of 2011, a lobbyist with Patricia Lynch Associates, where he works for current U.S. Representative Brian Higgins
Brian Higgins
Brian Higgins is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes the southern two-thirds of Buffalo proper, most of that city's eastern and southern suburbs, and all of Chautauqua County.-Early life, education and career:A native of...
.
His paternal grandmother's family (Czelusta) came to the United States in 1910 and 1912 from the (Hohensalza) Inowrocław area of Poland.