Antoine Thompson
Encyclopedia
Antoine Maurice Thompson (born March 1, 1970) was a Democratic
New York State Senator
who represented the state's 60th Senate district, which includes parts of Buffalo
and Tonawanda, the City of Niagara Falls
and the Town of Grand Island
. Thompson previously served for six years as the Masten District councilman in the Buffalo Common Council
. Thompson has been a lifelong Buffalonian and held political and politically-related professional positions in Buffalo before his service in elective politics.
Thompson was appointed to the city council in 2001 and was twice re-elected. He was discouraged from pursuing his interest in election to the United States House of Representatives
in 2005. He was encouraged to pursue a New York Senate Seat, but was not nominated by the Democratic Party when the seat first became available in a special election. However, during the 2006 general election for the seat, he was victorious after a successful election campaign. Thompson was challenged in the 2008 primary by the current holder of the seat but was victorious and was unchallenged in the November election. In 2010 Thompson won a 3-way primary battle but lost to Mark J. Grisanti, a Democrat who ran as a Republican
. After the election Grisanti became a Republican.
, Thompson is a 1994 graduate of State University of New York at Brockport
where he received a bachelor of science
in history. He was raised in Buffalo and was a graduate of public schools #60, #61 and Bennett High School.
He is the son of Richard Allen Thompson and Wanda Strong Thompson, the husband of Merle Thompson, and the father of Deja LaShay and Joseph Antoine Alexander Thompson. In high school, he served as captain of both the cross-country
and track & field teams and earned All-Western New York
Honors in both. Thompson is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
.
was elected to the New York State Senate in November 2000, Thompson was favored for an appointment as Brown's city council successor.
delegate at the 2004 Democratic National Convention
.
As a councilman, Thompson fought against crime and economic malaise in his district. He attempted to foster economic development and encourage support of worker training. Buffalo's East Side, which included his district, was a hub for employment activity that lured suburban residents. Thompson also engaged in urban planning
to restore public parks. As a city councilman, he co-sponsored a resolution with David Franczyk
against continued military involvement in the Iraq War.
then 76-year-old congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter who was already a 10-term veteran. Slaughter's New York's 28th congressional district
was 29 percent African American, and minorities comprised nearly 40 percent of the Democratic primary vote. Charles B. Rangel
warned that Slaughter had strong ties to the Congressional Black Caucus
as well as strong support from labor, women's and pro-choice groups.
Thompson was encouraged to pursue Brown's New York State Senate seat that was to be filled by special election on February 28, 2006 after Brown ascended to be the Mayor of Buffalo on January 1, 2006 following the 2005 election. The district has a 4–1 ratio of registered Democrats to Republicans
. In 2006, the Erie County Democratic Party chairman was Leonard Lenihan
, and he noted that Thompson had not been timely in entering the special election process. The Erie
and Niagara
County Democratic committees bypassed Thompson as their nominee in favor of Marc Coppola
despite Brown's backing.
Thompson had issued a threat that without backing for the State Senate seat, he would challenge Slaughter in the September primary election
, but Lenihan was unimpressed with the threat and noted that Thompson needed to take a "Dale Carnegie
course in terms of how to win friends and influence people".
Brown and Lenihan were at odds over various political positions after Lenihan played a major role in Brown's election to the office of Mayor. Brown supported Andrew Cuomo
for New York Attorney General, David Paterson
for Lieutenant Governor of New York
and Thompson for 60th District New York Senator. Lenihan disagreed with each of these choices. Brown claimed a perceived racial slight but Lenihan pointed out that neither Anthony Masiello
nor James D. Griffin was granted the right to pick their successor.
Thompson subsequently decided to run for the New York Senate seat in the November general election. Marc Coppola
won the special election by a 56–44% margin in a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans more than 6:1. Thompson opposed incumbent Senator Marc Coppola as well as his cousin Former State Sen. Al Coppola
in the September 2006 Democratic Primary for a full two-year term in the Senate. Thompson defeated both with 53% of the vote. He then defeated Marc Coppola again in the General election where Coppola ran as an Independent.
Thompson assumed office in a Upstate New York
district. When Thompson took office in January 2007, he, along with Diane Savino
and Jeffrey Klein (both of whom later defected from the Democrats to form the core of the Independent Democratic Conference), assumed the chairmanship of the New York Democratic Senate Campaign Committee by assuming control of Democratic campaigns development. He retained this position through the 2008 general election.
Thompson was the Chairman of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee. He was the former Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Cities Committee, which oversaw all legislation impacting the state's 62 incorporated cities and urban policy. This position was held by his two immediate predecessors in the Senate, Byron Brown and Marc Coppola. Thompson served on the Finance; Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business; Tourism, Recreation and Sports Development and Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs committees.
When Thompson assumed office, he continued his fight against economic blight with economic revitalization plans, with special focus on redevelopment of brownfield land
, but he had to combat government inaction and bureaucracy in this effort.
Thompson had been allied with NY City developer Howard Milstein
. In 2010 Thompson arranged for a $400,000 grant from NY State's Economic Development Program for the Manhattan billionaire’s Niagara Falls Redevelopment company to demolish properties in NiagaraFalls,NY.
Thompson was a vocal spokesman against the May 2007 bill to raise State Senator salaries because the lack of raises for Buffalo city workers made it seem wrong to him. After refusing to comment on the issue for some time, Thompson was one of eight Democratic defectors on Elliot Spitzer's unpopular policy allowing illegal aliens
to obtain driver's license
s. Thompson was one of eleven New York State Senators to be uncontested in the November 2008 general election. He supported the streamlining of minority- and woman-owned business certification. He opposes fracking
Thompson voted in favor of same-sex marriage legislation on December 2, 2009, but the bill was defeated.
He won the Democratic Party nomination in the September 14, 2010 primary election. After a lengthy recount Thompson lost the general election to Mark Grisanti
. Days before the election Thompson was named in a pay to play
scandal where he received $8600 from Aqueduct Entertainment Group (AEG), who was attempting to secure a lucrative state contract to operate a video slot machine casino at Aqueduct Racetrack
in Queens, New York.
1080 AM.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
New York State Senator
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
who represented the state's 60th Senate district, which includes parts of Buffalo
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...
and Tonawanda, the City of Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
and the Town of Grand Island
Grand Island, New York
Grand Island is a town and an island in Erie County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the town population is 20,374. This represents an increase of 9.41% from the 2000 census figure . The current town name derives from the French name La Grande Île, as Grand Island is the largest island in...
. Thompson previously served for six years as the Masten District councilman in the Buffalo Common Council
Buffalo Common Council
The Buffalo Common Council is the legislative branch of the Buffalo, New York City Government. It is a representative assembly, with one elected member from each of nine districts: Niagara, Delaware, Masten, Ellicott, Lovejoy, Fillmore, North, University, and South. In the past, the Common...
. Thompson has been a lifelong Buffalonian and held political and politically-related professional positions in Buffalo before his service in elective politics.
Thompson was appointed to the city council in 2001 and was twice re-elected. He was discouraged from pursuing his interest in election to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 2005. He was encouraged to pursue a New York Senate Seat, but was not nominated by the Democratic Party when the seat first became available in a special election. However, during the 2006 general election for the seat, he was victorious after a successful election campaign. Thompson was challenged in the 2008 primary by the current holder of the seat but was victorious and was unchallenged in the November election. In 2010 Thompson won a 3-way primary battle but lost to Mark J. Grisanti, a Democrat who ran as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. After the election Grisanti became a Republican.
Personal
Born in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, 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...
, Thompson is a 1994 graduate of State University of New York at Brockport
State University of New York at Brockport
The College at Brockport: State University of New York, also known as SUNY Brockport, Brockport State, College at Brockport, or the State University of New York at Brockport, is a four-year liberal arts college located in Brockport, Monroe County, New York, United States, near Rochester...
where he received a bachelor of science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in history. He was raised in Buffalo and was a graduate of public schools #60, #61 and Bennett High School.
He is the son of Richard Allen Thompson and Wanda Strong Thompson, the husband of Merle Thompson, and the father of Deja LaShay and Joseph Antoine Alexander Thompson. In high school, he served as captain of both the cross-country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
and track & field teams and earned All-Western New York
Western New York
Western New York is the westernmost region of the state of New York. It includes the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls, the surrounding suburbs, as well as the outlying rural areas of the Great Lakes lowlands, the Genesee Valley, and the Southern Tier. Some historians, scholars and others...
Honors in both. Thompson is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
.
Early career
Starting in 1996, he served two years as a legislative assistant to the Buffalo Common Council. In early 1998, he was named executive director of the Office of Urban Initiatives, which is a community development corporation that endeavors to improve business opportunities for minorities. After then-City Councilman Byron BrownByron Brown
Byron William Brown II is the 58th and current mayor of Buffalo, New York, elected on November 8, 2005 and is the city's first African-American mayor. He previously served Western New York as a member of the New York State Senate and Buffalo Common Council...
was elected to the New York State Senate in November 2000, Thompson was favored for an appointment as Brown's city council successor.
Councilman
Thompson was sworn in as the Masten District City Councilman on January 4, 2001 after being appointed by the Democratic Committee. His east side district included 27% of Buffalo's African-American population. The Buffalo City Council had a brief African-American majority during Thompson's appointed half term that ended following the subsequent elections in September and November 2001. After African-Americans lost their majority the council voted along racial lines by a 7–6 margin to shrink the common council from thirteen to nine members by eliminating the four at-large positions (three of which were held by African-Americans). The city voters endorsed the proposal by a 35,849–19,036 margin which largely went along racial lines. Thompson retained his council position in the 2001, 2003 and 2005 elections. Thompson served as a John EdwardsJohn Edwards
Johnny Reid "John" Edwards is an American politician, who served as a U.S. Senator from North Carolina. He was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 2004, and was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 and 2008.He defeated incumbent Republican Lauch Faircloth in...
delegate at the 2004 Democratic National Convention
2004 Democratic National Convention
The 2004 Democratic National Convention convened from July 26 to July 29, 2004 at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts, and nominated John Kerry and John Edwards as the official candidates of the Democratic Party for President and Vice President of the United States, respectively, in the 2004...
.
As a councilman, Thompson fought against crime and economic malaise in his district. He attempted to foster economic development and encourage support of worker training. Buffalo's East Side, which included his district, was a hub for employment activity that lured suburban residents. Thompson also engaged in urban planning
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
to restore public parks. As a city councilman, he co-sponsored a resolution with David Franczyk
David Franczyk
David A. "Dave" Franczyk is the President and a councilmember of the Buffalo Common Council, which is the representative legislative branch of the government of Buffalo, New York...
against continued military involvement in the Iraq War.
Higher office
In 2005, Thompson began testing the waters for higher office. He raised campaign funds and consulted party leaders about the possibility of challenging United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
then 76-year-old congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter who was already a 10-term veteran. Slaughter's New York's 28th congressional district
New York's 28th congressional district
The 28th district of New York is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in northwest New York. The district is based in Rochester, Buffalo, and Niagara Falls, and includes parts of Erie, Monroe, Niagara and Orleans Counties; its easternmost point is in Fairport at...
was 29 percent African American, and minorities comprised nearly 40 percent of the Democratic primary vote. Charles B. Rangel
Charles B. Rangel
Charles Bernard "Charlie" Rangel is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1971. A member of the Democratic Party, he is the third-longest currently serving member of the House of Representatives. As its most senior member, he is also the Dean of New York's congressional delegation...
warned that Slaughter had strong ties to the Congressional Black Caucus
Congressional Black Caucus
The Congressional Black Caucus is an organization representing the black members of the United States Congress. Membership is exclusive to blacks, and its chair in the 112th Congress is Representative Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri.-Aims:...
as well as strong support from labor, women's and pro-choice groups.
Thompson was encouraged to pursue Brown's New York State Senate seat that was to be filled by special election on February 28, 2006 after Brown ascended to be the Mayor of Buffalo on January 1, 2006 following the 2005 election. The district has a 4–1 ratio of registered Democrats to Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. In 2006, the Erie County Democratic Party chairman was Leonard Lenihan
Leonard Lenihan
Leonard Lenihan is the Chairman of the Erie County Democratic Committee in Erie County, New York. He is a former Chairman of the Erie County Legislature and a former county personnel commissioner. He was a Presidential Elector for Sen. John Kerry and Sen. John Edwards in 2004. His wife, Kathleen...
, and he noted that Thompson had not been timely in entering the special election process. The Erie
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...
and Niagara
Niagara County, New York
Niagara County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,469. The county seat is Lockport. The county name is from the Iroquois word Onguiaahra; meaning the strait or thunder of waters. It is the location of Niagara Falls and Fort Niagara, and...
County Democratic committees bypassed Thompson as their nominee in favor of Marc Coppola
Marc Coppola
Marc A. Coppola is a resident of the Town of Tonawanda, New York and a former member of the New York State Assembly, where he represented the New York 60th Senate district which includes parts of the Cities of Buffalo and Tonawanda, the City of Niagara Falls and the Town of Grand Island.Coppola...
despite Brown's backing.
Thompson had issued a threat that without backing for the State Senate seat, he would challenge Slaughter in the September primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
, but Lenihan was unimpressed with the threat and noted that Thompson needed to take a "Dale Carnegie
Dale Carnegie
Dale Breckenridge Carnegie was an American writer, lecturer, and the developer of famous courses in self-improvement, salesmanship, corporate training, public speaking, and interpersonal skills...
course in terms of how to win friends and influence people".
Brown and Lenihan were at odds over various political positions after Lenihan played a major role in Brown's election to the office of Mayor. Brown supported Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Mark Cuomo is the 56th and current Governor of New York, having assumed office on January 1, 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the 64th New York State Attorney General, and was the 11th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development...
for New York Attorney General, David Paterson
David Paterson
David Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting...
for Lieutenant Governor of New York
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
and Thompson for 60th District New York Senator. Lenihan disagreed with each of these choices. Brown claimed a perceived racial slight but Lenihan pointed out that neither Anthony Masiello
Anthony Masiello
Anthony M. Masiello was mayor of Buffalo, New York from 1994 to 2005. Prior to being mayor, he served as a New York State Senator.-Personal and Educational Background:...
nor James D. Griffin was granted the right to pick their successor.
Thompson subsequently decided to run for the New York Senate seat in the November general election. Marc Coppola
Marc Coppola
Marc A. Coppola is a resident of the Town of Tonawanda, New York and a former member of the New York State Assembly, where he represented the New York 60th Senate district which includes parts of the Cities of Buffalo and Tonawanda, the City of Niagara Falls and the Town of Grand Island.Coppola...
won the special election by a 56–44% margin in a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans more than 6:1. Thompson opposed incumbent Senator Marc Coppola as well as his cousin Former State Sen. Al Coppola
Al Coppola
Alfred "Al" Coppola is a former state senator and politician in New York. A resident of Buffalo, New York, Coppola is a long time political figure in the city, who served briefly as the 60th District member in the New York Senate at the turn of the 21st century.A longtime member of the Buffalo...
in the September 2006 Democratic Primary for a full two-year term in the Senate. Thompson defeated both with 53% of the vote. He then defeated Marc Coppola again in the General election where Coppola ran as an Independent.
Senator
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
district. When Thompson took office in January 2007, he, along with Diane Savino
Diane Savino
Diane Savino is a Democratic elected official from New York City, USA.She currently represents the 23rd Senate District in the New York State Senate, in northern Staten Island and parts of southern Brooklyn, including Sunset Park and Coney Island. She was elected in 2004.On December 2, 2009, Savino...
and Jeffrey Klein (both of whom later defected from the Democrats to form the core of the Independent Democratic Conference), assumed the chairmanship of the New York Democratic Senate Campaign Committee by assuming control of Democratic campaigns development. He retained this position through the 2008 general election.
Thompson was the Chairman of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee. He was the former Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Cities Committee, which oversaw all legislation impacting the state's 62 incorporated cities and urban policy. This position was held by his two immediate predecessors in the Senate, Byron Brown and Marc Coppola. Thompson served on the Finance; Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business; Tourism, Recreation and Sports Development and Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs committees.
When Thompson assumed office, he continued his fight against economic blight with economic revitalization plans, with special focus on redevelopment of brownfield land
Brownfield land
Brownfield sites are abandoned or underused industrial and commercial facilities available for re-use. Expansion or redevelopment of such a facility may be complicated by real or perceived environmental contaminations. Cf. Waste...
, but he had to combat government inaction and bureaucracy in this effort.
Thompson had been allied with NY City developer Howard Milstein
Howard Milstein
Howard Philip Milstein represents the third generation of one of New York's leading real estate, financial and philanthropic families. His entrepreneurial ventures include real estate, banking, hotels, marketing, and finance. Milstein is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of New York...
. In 2010 Thompson arranged for a $400,000 grant from NY State's Economic Development Program for the Manhattan billionaire’s Niagara Falls Redevelopment company to demolish properties in NiagaraFalls,NY.
Thompson was a vocal spokesman against the May 2007 bill to raise State Senator salaries because the lack of raises for Buffalo city workers made it seem wrong to him. After refusing to comment on the issue for some time, Thompson was one of eight Democratic defectors on Elliot Spitzer's unpopular policy allowing illegal aliens
Alien (law)
In law, an alien is a person in a country who is not a citizen of that country.-Categorization:Types of "alien" persons are:*An alien who is legally permitted to remain in a country which is foreign to him or her. On specified terms, this kind of alien may be called a legal alien of that country...
to obtain driver's license
Driver's license
A driver's license/licence , or driving licence is an official document which states that a person may operate a motorized vehicle, such as a motorcycle, car, truck or a bus, on a public roadway. Most U.S...
s. Thompson was one of eleven New York State Senators to be uncontested in the November 2008 general election. He supported the streamlining of minority- and woman-owned business certification. He opposes fracking
Thompson voted in favor of same-sex marriage legislation on December 2, 2009, but the bill was defeated.
He won the Democratic Party nomination in the September 14, 2010 primary election. After a lengthy recount Thompson lost the general election to Mark Grisanti
Mark Grisanti
Mark John Grisanti is a lawyer and politician.On January 3, 2011, he assumed office as the Republican New York State Senator representing New York's 60th Senate District – which encompasses the areas of Buffalo, Tonawanda, Niagara Falls and Grand Island, New York – having won...
. Days before the election Thompson was named in a pay to play
Pay to Play
Pay to play, sometimes pay for play, is a phrase used for a variety of situations in which money is exchanged for services or the privilege to engage in certain activities...
scandal where he received $8600 from Aqueduct Entertainment Group (AEG), who was attempting to secure a lucrative state contract to operate a video slot machine casino at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
in Queens, New York.
Other
Thompson formerly hosted Western New York on the Move, a weekly radio show broadcast Thursdays at noon on WUFOWUFO
WUFO, Western New York's first radio station programming to the African-American community, began in 1961 when famed station owner Gordon McLendon moved his then 1080 am WYSL to 1400 am. McLendon sold the 1080 frequency to Leonard Walk, a Jewish man with a group of Black formatted stations...
1080 AM.
External links
- New York State Senate: Antoine M. Thompson"This Senator is currently inactive, and this content is provided to you as an archive."