Tom Abinanti
Encyclopedia
Thomas J. "Tom" Abinanti (born 1946/1947) is an American
politician, lawyer, and member of the New York State Assembly
from Greenburgh
, New York
. A member of the Democratic Party
, Abinanti was elected to the State Assembly in 2010 to replace Assemblyman Richard Brodsky
, and represents central Westchester County
, New York
.
Born in Brooklyn
, Abinanti graduated from Xaverian High School
in 1964. He received a B.A. degree in political science
from Fordham College in 1968 and a J.D.
from the New York University School of Law
in 1972. He moved to Westchester in 1975 and has lived in Greenburgh ever since, where he is a practicing attorney and served two terms as Greenburgh Town Councilman (1980–1984 and 1990–1991). Abinanti has taught Continuing Legal Education Courses for Pace
Law School and courses in State and Local Government as an adjunct professor at Mercy College
.
Abinanti was Legislative Counsel to a Congresswoman
and Staff Counsel the Speaker of the New York State Assembly
and various Assembly committees. He served as a Prosecuting Attorney for the Villages of Ardsley
and Dobbs Ferry
.
For almost twenty years (1992–2010), he represented the 12th District on the Westchester County Board of Legislators
, which included the villages of Irvington
, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings
, Ardsley, and much of unincorporated Greenburgh, including East Irvington, Central Greenburgh, Hartsdale
and Edgemont, until his election to the State Assembly in November 2010. On the County Board, he previously served as Majority Leader for three terms when the Democrats first assumed the majority on the Board for the first time in the history of the Westchester Legislature.
The 92nd District of the State Assembly which Abinanti represents includes the towns
of Greenburgh and Mount Pleasant
, the villages
of Ardsley, Elmsford
, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings-on-Hudson
, Irvington, Tarrytown
, and Sleepy Hollow
, as well as parts of the Village of Briarcliff
and the City of Yonkers
.
In 1996, Abinanti was defeated in a run for the 35th District of the New York State Senate
against the incumbent Republican
State Senator Nicholas A. Spano.
Abinanti and his wife Janet Longo-Abinanti have a son Justin. His daughter Nicole is an M.D. who is married with two children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, lawyer, and member of the New York State Assembly
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...
from Greenburgh
Greenburgh, New York
Greenburgh is a town in the western part of Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 88,400 at the 2010 census. Paul J. Feiner has been the Town Supervisor since 1991.-History:...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. A member of the Democratic Party
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...
, Abinanti was elected to the State Assembly in 2010 to replace Assemblyman Richard Brodsky
Richard Brodsky
Richard Brodsky is an American politician who represented District 92 in the New York State Assembly, which includes the towns of Greenburgh and Mount Pleasant, the villages of Ardsley, Elmsford, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington, Tarrytown, as well as parts of Briarcliff and Yonkers,...
, and represents central Westchester County
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Born in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, Abinanti graduated from Xaverian High School
Xaverian High School
Xaverian High School is a private, college-preparatory school located in Brooklyn, New York The school was founded in 1957 by the Xaverian Brothers. The school is a member of the Catholic High School Athletic Association . Xaverian is governed by a president and board of trustees...
in 1964. He received a B.A. 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 Fordham College in 1968 and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the New York University School of Law
New York University School of Law
The New York University School of Law is the law school of New York University. Established in 1835, the school offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in law, and is located in Greenwich Village, in the New York City borough of Manhattan....
in 1972. He moved to Westchester in 1975 and has lived in Greenburgh ever since, where he is a practicing attorney and served two terms as Greenburgh Town Councilman (1980–1984 and 1990–1991). Abinanti has taught Continuing Legal Education Courses for Pace
Pace University
Pace University is an American private, co-educational, and comprehensive multi-campus university in the New York metropolitan area with campuses in New York City and Westchester County, New York.-Programs:...
Law School and courses in State and Local Government as an adjunct professor at Mercy College
Mercy College
Mercy College can refer to:* Mercy College of Northwest Ohio* Mercy College , Sydney, NSW* Mercy College , Ireland* Mercy College , Dobbs Ferry, NY* Mercy College , Western Australia...
.
Abinanti was Legislative Counsel to a Congresswoman
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...
and Staff Counsel the Speaker of the New York State Assembly
Speaker of the New York State Assembly
The Speaker of the New York State Assembly is the highest official in the New York State Assembly, customarily elected from the ranks of the majority party....
and various Assembly committees. He served as a Prosecuting Attorney for the Villages of Ardsley
Ardsley, New York
Ardsley is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is part of the town of Greenburgh. The village's population was 4,452 at the 2010 census. The current mayor of Ardsley is Jay Leon....
and Dobbs Ferry
Dobbs Ferry, New York
Dobbs Ferry is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 10,875 at the 2010 census.The Village of Dobbs Ferry is located in, and is a part of, the town of Greenburgh...
.
For almost twenty years (1992–2010), he represented the 12th District on the Westchester County Board of Legislators
Westchester County Board of Legislators
The Westchester County Board of Legislators is the legislative, policy-making branch of Westchester County. The powers of the Board are enumerated in the County’s charter. A key power of the Board concerns finances: appropriating funds, approving the budget and levying taxes...
, which included the villages of Irvington
Irvington, New York
Irvington, sometimes known as Irvington-on-Hudson, is an affluent suburban village in the town of Greenburgh in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, north of midtown Manhattan in New York City, and is served by a station stop on the...
, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings
Hastings, New York
Hastings is a town in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 8,803 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Hastings Curtiss, a prominent citizen and member of the State Assembly in 1824....
, Ardsley, and much of unincorporated Greenburgh, including East Irvington, Central Greenburgh, Hartsdale
Hartsdale, New York
Hartsdale is a hamlet and a census-designated place located in the town of Greenburgh, Westchester County, New York. The population was 5,293 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hartsdale is located at ....
and Edgemont, until his election to the State Assembly in November 2010. On the County Board, he previously served as Majority Leader for three terms when the Democrats first assumed the majority on the Board for the first time in the history of the Westchester Legislature.
The 92nd District of the State Assembly which Abinanti represents includes the towns
Administrative divisions of New York
The administrative divisions of New York are the various units of government that provide local government services in the state of New York. The state has four types of multi-purpose municipal corporation that provide most local government services, namely: counties, cities, towns, and villages...
of Greenburgh and Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant, New York
Mount Pleasant is a town in Westchester County, New York, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 43,724.-Geography:...
, the villages
Administrative divisions of New York
The administrative divisions of New York are the various units of government that provide local government services in the state of New York. The state has four types of multi-purpose municipal corporation that provide most local government services, namely: counties, cities, towns, and villages...
of Ardsley, Elmsford
Elmsford, New York
Elmsford is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. Roughly one mile square, the village is fully contained within the borders of the town of Greenburgh...
, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings-on-Hudson
Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
Hastings-on-Hudson is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in the southwest part of the town of Greenburgh. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 7,849. It lies on U.S. Route 9, "Broadway" in Hastings...
, Irvington, Tarrytown
Tarrytown, New York
Tarrytown is a village in the town of Greenburgh in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, about north of midtown Manhattan in New York City, and is served by a stop on the Metro-North Hudson Line...
, and Sleepy Hollow
Sleepy Hollow, New York
Sleepy Hollow is a village in the town of Mount Pleasant in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, about north of midtown Manhattan in New York City, and is served by the Philipse Manor stop on the Metro-North Hudson Line.Originally...
, as well as parts of the Village of Briarcliff
Briarcliff Manor, New York
Briarcliff Manor is a village in Westchester County in the state of New York. It is shared between the towns of Mount Pleasant and Ossining, and lies entirely within the ZIP code of 10510...
and the City of Yonkers
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
.
In 1996, Abinanti was defeated in a run for the 35th District of the New York State Senate
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...
against the incumbent 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...
State Senator Nicholas A. Spano.
Abinanti and his wife Janet Longo-Abinanti have a son Justin. His daughter Nicole is an M.D. who is married with two children.