Joseph Morelle
Encyclopedia
Joseph D. "Joe" Morelle is a member of the New York State Assembly
representing the 132nd Assembly District, which includes eastern portions of the City of Rochester
and the Monroe County
suburbs of Irondequoit
and Brighton
.
, and grew up in the town of Irondequoit
where he attended Eastridge High School
. He went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in political science
from SUNY Geneseo in 1986.
He lives in Irondequoit with his wife, Mary Beth. They have three children: Lauren, Joseph Junior, Nicholas.
In his early years, he was a sales manager for a drycleaning and laundry business.
, made his first foray into politics at the age of 24 when he ran for a seat in the Monroe County legislature. He failed to unseat the incumbent on the first try, but prevailed in the 1983 election. He was re-elected once before running for the New York State legislature.
and won the November 2010 general election with 61 percent of the vote.
During his tenure in the State Legislature, among the more than 75 laws authored by Morelle are major reforms to the workers compensation system, laws to require carbon monoxide
detectors in one- and two-family homes, toughen regulations governing charitable organizations, protect the elderly and ill who live in nursing home
s or receive home based health care
, and increased senior citizens' real property tax
exemption. Morelle has sponsored bills to exempt veterans from certain state licensing fees, protect their gravesites and assist them with regard to the civil service application process.
In January 2001, Morelle was appointed the Chairman of the Assembly Standing Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Sports Development. He worked with area leaders to develop Rochester as a center for tourism and the arts in Western New York.
In addition to the Tourism Committee, Morelle’s standing committee assignments include Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry; Higher Education; Local Governments; and Libraries and Education Technology. At his request, the Speaker created the Subcommittee on Manufacturing in order to give New York’s manufacturing sector a greater voice in state government.
In 2005, Morelle issued a report, “Creating a State of Innovation: Unleashing The Power of New York’s Entrepreneurial Economy,” detailing New York’s economic decline, particularly in Upstate, and offering numerous policy recommendations to reverse this years-long trend.
In 2005, Morelle was elected chairman of the Monroe County Democratic Committee.
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
representing the 132nd Assembly District, which includes eastern portions of the City of Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
and the Monroe County
Monroe County, New York
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 744,344. It is named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States of America. Its county seat is the city of Rochester....
suburbs of Irondequoit
Irondequoit, New York
Irondequoit is a town in Monroe County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the coterminous town-CDP had a total population of 51,692...
and Brighton
Brighton, Monroe County, New York
Brighton is a town in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 36,609 at the 2010 census.-History:The Town of Brighton, located on the southeast border of the city of Rochester, was originally settled approximately 1790, and formally established in 1814—earning it recognition as one...
.
Early years
Morelle was born in Utica, New YorkUtica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
, and grew up in the town of Irondequoit
Irondequoit, New York
Irondequoit is a town in Monroe County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the coterminous town-CDP had a total population of 51,692...
where he attended Eastridge High School
Eastridge High School
Eastridge High School is an American public secondary school located in Irondequoit, New York. Its current principal is Mary Grow. The School is an IB world school...
. He went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from SUNY Geneseo in 1986.
He lives in Irondequoit with his wife, Mary Beth. They have three children: Lauren, Joseph Junior, Nicholas.
In his early years, he was a sales manager for a drycleaning and laundry business.
County legislature
Morelle, a DemocratDemocratic 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...
, made his first foray into politics at the age of 24 when he ran for a seat in the Monroe County legislature. He failed to unseat the incumbent on the first try, but prevailed in the 1983 election. He was re-elected once before running for the New York State legislature.
State legislature
Morelle was first elected to the State Assembly in 1990. He ran uncontested in the November 2008 general electionGeneral election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
and won the November 2010 general election with 61 percent of the vote.
During his tenure in the State Legislature, among the more than 75 laws authored by Morelle are major reforms to the workers compensation system, laws to require carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide , also called carbonous oxide, is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly lighter than air. It is highly toxic to humans and animals in higher quantities, although it is also produced in normal animal metabolism in low quantities, and is thought to have some normal...
detectors in one- and two-family homes, toughen regulations governing charitable organizations, protect the elderly and ill who live in nursing home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
s or receive home based health care
Home care
Home Care, , is health care or supportive care provided in the patient's home by healthcare professionals Home Care, (also referred to as domiciliary care or social care), is health care or supportive care provided in the patient's home by healthcare professionals Home Care, (also referred to as...
, and increased senior citizens' real property tax
Property tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
exemption. Morelle has sponsored bills to exempt veterans from certain state licensing fees, protect their gravesites and assist them with regard to the civil service application process.
In January 2001, Morelle was appointed the Chairman of the Assembly Standing Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Sports Development. He worked with area leaders to develop Rochester as a center for tourism and the arts in Western New York.
In addition to the Tourism Committee, Morelle’s standing committee assignments include Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry; Higher Education; Local Governments; and Libraries and Education Technology. At his request, the Speaker created the Subcommittee on Manufacturing in order to give New York’s manufacturing sector a greater voice in state government.
In 2005, Morelle issued a report, “Creating a State of Innovation: Unleashing The Power of New York’s Entrepreneurial Economy,” detailing New York’s economic decline, particularly in Upstate, and offering numerous policy recommendations to reverse this years-long trend.
In 2005, Morelle was elected chairman of the Monroe County Democratic Committee.