Pete Lopez (politician)

Peter D. Lopez
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 102nd district
Assumed office
January 1, 2007
Preceded by Daniel L. Hooker
Personal details
Born (1961-04-10) April 10, 1961[1]
Miami, Florida[1]
Nationality American
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Bridgett[2]
Children four[2]
Residence Schoharie, New York[2]
Alma mater SUNY Cobleskill
SUNY Albany (M.P.A.)
Profession politician
Website Official website

Peter D. "Pete" Lopez (born April 10, 1961)[1] is a politician and member of the New York State Assembly representing the 102nd Assembly District (established in 2012),[3] which includes all of Schoharie County and portions of Chenango, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Ulster counties.[4] He is a Republican with extensive local and state experience.

Early life

Peter D. Lopez was born in Miami, Florida;[1] his family moved to Schoharie, New York, where he was raised. He graduated from Schoharie Central School, the State University College at Cobleskill, and the University at Albany, where he received a Master of Public Administration degree[3] in 1988.[2]

Politics

Lopez became interested in politics as a young man, joining the Republican Party and running for the Schoharie Village Board at the age of 20. He lost to a candidate endorsed by the mayor. Lopez later won a seat on the Village Board and worked his way to being elected as Supervisor.[5]

Lopez worked as staff to the New York State Legislature for 21 years, collaborating with a broad range of public and private interests at the federal, state and local levels.[5] Among his position was as Associate Director of the Senate Agriculture Committee (Senator John R. Kuhl, Jr., Chairman), and Assistant Director of the Legislative Commission on Rural Resources (Senator Charles D. Cook, Chairman).[5] He also served as the District Office Director for Assembly Minority Leader John Faso, who ran for Governor of New York in 2006.[2][5]

In 2004, Lopez was elected County Clerk with about 70 percent of the vote; he served until 2006.

Elected to state office

Lopez was first elected to the State Assembly in November 2006,[3] when he defeated Siena College professor Scott Trees. He won a total of 58 percent of the vote on the Republican, Conservative, and Independence party lines. Lopez ran uncontested in the November 2008[6][7] and November 2010 general elections.[4][8] In 2012 he won from the newly defined 102nd Assembly district.

Pete Lopez has supported energy conservation and the development of alternative energy sources in the Mohawk Valley, including wind farms.[9] In 2007 he and his staff organized a tour of the Maple Ridge, Fenner, and Madison wind farms in New York state.[10] Lopez also supports biodiesel research and development in the state, as well as tourism, family farms, and manufacturing.[9]

Personal life

Lopez is a member of the SUNY Cobleskill Foundation Board as well as the Bassett Hospital Board. He has become a black belt in karate.[2][5]

He has long been active in numerous volunteer organizations, including as a member of an advisory committee on runaway and troubled youth, and as Chairman of the Schoharie Main Street Committee. He was a founding member of Habitat for Humanity of Schoharie County.[5]

Honors

References

External links

New York Assembly
Preceded by
Dan Hooker
New York State Assembly, 127th District
2007–present
Incumbent
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