Patricia Fahy

American politician

Patricia Fahy
Patricia Fahy in 2023

Member of the New York State Assembly from the 109th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 1, 2013
Preceded by	Jack McEneny

Personal details
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Wayne Bequette
Children	2
Residence	Albany, New York
Alma mater	Northern Illinois University (BA), University of Illinois, Chicago (MPA)
Profession	Educator, politician
Signature
Website	Official website

Patricia Fahy is an American politician and a member of the Democratic Party, who currently represents parts of Albany County in the New York State Assembly, including most of western Albany. She was previously president of the Albany City Board of Education.

Electoral history

2012 elections

On September 13, 2012, there was a primary election in the Democratic Party^[1] to replace the retiring incumbent Jack McEneny, who had been an assemblyman for 20 years. Fahy received 5,335 votes (36.34%) in a crowded field that included Frank J. Commisso, Jr., Christopher T. Higgins, William J. McCarthy, Jr., Jim Coyne and Margarita Perez, as well as write-in candidates.^[2] Ted J. Danz, Jr., however, beat Fahy in the Independence Party primary held the same date, 51 to 46%, with some write-ins.^[2] Her opponents were all politically well-connected: Commisso, Jr. was a sitting member of the Albany Common Council; Higgins was a sitting member of the Albany County Legislature; McCarthy was an attorney and scion of a well-known family of the area; Perez was a notable local political activist; businessman Danz had been active in local Republican politics for decades.

In the November 2012 general election, Fahy won with 37,967 votes, or almost 63%, on the Democratic and Working Family party lines, against Danz, who received about 32.5% on the Republican and Independence lines, and the perennial candidate and Tea Party activist Joseph P. Sullivan on the Conservative line, who got about 3.5% of the vote.^[3]

Legislative work

Fahy fought Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposed 2014-2015 education budget.^[4]

She praised Cuomo's environmental efforts, but questioned the timing of delays to environmental review.^[5]

In February 2017, Fahy, along with Albany mayor Kathy Sheehan and congressman Paul Tonko, were criticized by Bishop Edward Scharfenberger for being Catholic politicians who supported and attended a rally for Planned Parenthood.^[6]

References

^ Matthew J. Clyne; Rachel L. Bledi (September 13, 2012). "Official Results from Past Elections". Albany County Board of Elections. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
^ ^a ^b Matthew J. Clyne; Rachel L. Bledi (September 27, 2012). "Official Primary Statistics" (PDF). Albany County Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
^ Matthew J. Clyne; Rachel L. Bledi (February 5, 2013). "SUMMARY REPORT OFFICIAL" (PDF). Albany County Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
^ Seiler, Casey (January 22, 2014). "School advocates say Cuomo budget shortchanges kids; others hit $2B tax cut for wealthy: Tax cuts for wealthy attacked as more for needy schools sought". Albany Times-Union. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
- Roy, Yancey (January 23, 2014). "Cuomo pitting pre-K against K-12 programs, some say". Newsday. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
- "Notable Quotes of the Week". Albany Times- Union. January 25, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
- Lambdin, Bill (January 22, 2014). "Cuomo budget draws complaints from progressive groups". WNYT-TV news. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
- Pihlaja, Erin (January 23, 2014). "Nothing Left To Squeeze Area legislators and advocates gather to tell Gov. Cuomo that his budget will devastate education in upstate New York, and that they won't take it quietlyb". Metroland. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
^ Nearing, Brian (January 29, 2014). "Cuomo seeks state, federal review of crude oil shipments; Governor orders safety review to control effects of oil train disaster". Albany Times-Union. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
^ Churchill, Chris (February 16, 2017). "Churchill: Bishop scolds Catholic politicians who stood with Planned Parenthood". Albany Times-Union. Retrieved February 16, 2017.