Nicole Malliotakis

Nicole Malliotakis
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 64th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 1, 2013
Preceded by	Incumbent
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 60th district
In office January 1, 2011 – December 31, 2012
Preceded by	Janele Hyer-Spencer
Personal details
Born	November 11, 1980[1][2] New York City, New York, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Residence	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 a small portion of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and Staten Island in the New York State Assembly. The Assemblywoman is the daughter of Greek and Cuban immigrants. She is the only Republican woman elected in New York City and the first Hispanic-American to win elected office in 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 received a B.A. in communications from Seton Hall University and a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from Wagner College.^[6]

Malliotakis is the daughter of immigrant parents. Her mother is an immigrant from Cuba and her father is from Greece. Raised in the Greek Orthodox faith, Ms. Malliotakis grew up in Great Kills, Staten Island.^[7]

Legislative career

In 2013, she was recognized as a rising star.^[8] After Representative Michael Grimm announced his retirement at the end of 2014, Malliotakis was mentioned as a top contender for his seat before deciding against a run. ^[9]

In 2013, she was selected by the American Conservative Union to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington D.C. as one of the nation's 10 Conservative rising stars under the age of 40.

Committee Assignments as of 2012:

• Ways & Means
• Banks
• Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions
• Governmental Employees (ranking minority member)^[10]
• Transportation^[11]

She has made elder rights a hallmark of her tenure and has successfully fought to keep senior centers in Brooklyn and Staten Island from being closed.^[12]

Assemblywoman Malliotakis has been widely recognized for her work to help her constituents in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, which devastated her legislative district in 2012.

Another priority of Assemblywoman Malliotakis has been the restoration of MTA bus service in her district. She successfully fought with Senator Golden and the Brooklyn City Council Representative to restore bus lines to her district including the x1, x27, B37, S76 and S93.^[13][14] 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.^[15] The Legislature and Governor Andrew Cuomo subsequently enacted significant repeals.^[16]

She has been at the forefront of the fight for relief from the September 2011 toll increase on Port Authority bridges,^[17] calling for divestment of costly non-essential real estate holdings and highlighting mismanaged contributions to community organizations.^[18]

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,^[19] and successfully brought an Article 78 proceeding in New York State Supreme Court to get 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.^[20]

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,^[21] the Hispanic Coalition of New York,^[22] and the Greek America Foundation.^[23] She has also been named a 'Top Ranking Pro Jobs Supporter' by The Business Council of New York State.^[24]

In November 2015, Assemblywoman Malliotakis was named New York State Chair of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio's campaign for President of the United States.^[25]

She is single and resides in Staten Island.

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.^[6]

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.^[26]

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 and is one of only two Republicans from the City of New York elected to the State Assembly, along with Joseph Borelli.

Assemblywoman Malliotakis was re-elected in 2012 with 61% of the vote and again in 2014 with an overwhelming 73% of the vote in both Brooklyn and Staten Island.

References

1. "Legislative Preview: Meet The New Members". The Capitol. Manhattan Media. January 6, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
2. Benanti, Carol Ann (November 11, 2010). "Staten Island veteran of Korean War is a faithful scribe". Staten Island Advance. SILive.com. Happy Veterans Day birthday to Assemblywoman-elect Nicole Malliotakis, who celebrates her 30th
3. Robinson, Gail (November 3, 2010). "As Country Goes Red, New York Stays Blue". Gotham Gazette.
4. Biography at the New York State Assembly website. Accessed January 19, 2011.
5. "Legislative Preview: Meet the New Members," The Capitol, January 2011, p. 19. Found at NY Capitol News website. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
6. Randall, Judy L. (November 9, 2010). "Political trailblazer from Rosebank poised to light a fire under Albany". Staten Island Advance. SILive.com.
7. "Assembly hopeful Nicole Malliotakis stays close to roots in campaign's final hours". Staten Island Advance. SILive.com. November 2, 2010.
8. Tom Wrobleski (March 14, 2013). "Staten Island's Malliotakis on the rise in American conservative movement". Staten Island Advance. SILive.com.
9. John Parkinson and Shushannah Walshe (December 30, 2014). "Replacing Rep. Michael Grimm: Contenders Include Eric Garner DA". ABC News.
10. "Debi Rose, Nicole Malliotakis register political victories without precedent". Staten Island Advance. SILive.com. March 26, 2011.
11. "What's My District?: State Assembly 60". Gotham Gazette: Eye on Albany. http://www.citizensunion.org/. October 18, 2011. External link in |publisher= (help)
12. Randall, Judy L. (February 12, 2011). "Push to save friendship clubs". Staten Island Advance. SILive.com.
13. Klein, Helen (July 19, 2012). "X27 Service Restored: Weekend express buses coming back". Home Reporter News. HomeReporterNews.com.
14. Staten Island Advance Editorial (July 25, 2012). "A new MTA? Unprecedented MTA service restorations on Staten Island in the offing". Staten Island Advance. SILive.com.
15. Randall, Judy L. (October 25, 2011). "Hated MTA payroll tax takes its lumps at forum on Staten Island". Staten Island Advance. SILive.com.
16. McDonough, Daniel (December 12, 2011). "Cheering the end of the MTA payroll tax". Legislative Gazette. LegislativeGazette.com.
17. Staten Island Advance Editorial (January 7, 2012). "Ms. Malliotakis speaks out". Staten Island Advance. SILive.com.
18. Randall, Judy L. (January 11, 2012). "Port Authority blunders cost Staten Islanders millions of $$". Staten Island Advance. SILive.com.
19. Randall, Judy L. (October 7, 2011). "Staten Island lawmakers divided on toll discount strategy". Staten Island Advance. SILive.com.
20. Katz, Celeste (August 6, 2012). "Malliotakis To Port Authority: Information, Please". New York Daily News. NYDailyNews.com.
21. Editorial (March 1, 2012). "Brooklyn Rising Stars to be honored on March 22". Home Reporter News. HomeReporterNews.com.
22. "Assemblywoman Malliotakis named 'rising star'". Staten Island Advance. SILive.com. February 8, 2012.
23. "Class of 2012".
24. "New York State Assembly Top Ranking Voters' Guide 2011-2012".
25. Anna Sanders (November 10, 2015). "Malliotakis to chair Marco Rubio's New York campaign". Staten Island Advance. SILive.com.
26. Padnani, Amy (November 3, 2010). "Nicole Malliotakis, an upstart from Rosebank, runs roughshod over Assembly incumbent". Staten Island Advance. SILive.com.

External links

• Government Site
• Campaign Site