O'Mara will continue to chair Senate Elections Committee, named to new post on powerful Senate Finance Committee

Albany, N.Y., January 25—Beginning his second term in the New York State Senate, State Senator Tom O’Mara (R-C, Big Flats) has been reappointed chairman of the Senate Elections Committee and, for the first time, will serve as a member of the powerful Senate Finance Committee.

The appointments were announced late yesterday by Senate leaders in Albany.

In addition to his committee chairmanship and his new post on the Finance Committee, one of the Legislature’s two key fiscal committees that oversee the development of the annual state budget and most of New York’s other economic and fiscal policies, O’Mara was also named a member on nine other Senate committees: Agriculture; Banks; Codes; Energy and Telecommunications; Environmental Conservation; Insurance;  Investigations and Operations; Judiciary; and Transportation.

O’Mara stressed that his committee assignments will allow him to focus on many of the key issues facing the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions, including strengthening industries like agriculture, manufacturing and tourism; tax and regulatory reforms; environmental protection and energy; and public safety and criminal justice.

“It’s a full and enormously challenging plate of assignments, so I’m grateful for the leadership’s confidence in my experience and ability to hopefully provide some worthwhile input that moves us forward in positive directions and produces results.  I’ll do my best,” said O’Mara, who was first elected  to the Senate in 2010 and reelected last November, ”I’m especially excited by these opportunities to work on committees that directly impact so many of the key challenges facing the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions, from the future of farming to upstate job creation.  These assignments offer the chance for direct input on a range of issues vital to the short- and long-term future of our regional economy, key economic and fiscal reforms, and the overall quality and strength of our communities.”   

The Senate Committee on Elections serves as the Senate’s primary legislative and governmental oversight committee on New York’s election policies and voting processes.  Among other responsibilities, the committee is charged with developing and reviewing proposed reforms, increasing public awareness of New York’s voting procedures, and overseeing the practices and policies of the state Board of Elections. 

O’Mara said, “One of government’s fundamental responsibilities is to ensure the accessibility, integrity and quality of the electoral process.  I look forward to this opportunity to ensure that the Senate remains careful and deliberate in its approach to reforming, improving and overseeing voting in New York State.” 

O’Mara represents the 58th Senate District comprised of Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, and Yates counties, and a part of Tompkins County (the city and town of Ithaca, and the towns of Enfield, Newfield and Ulysses).