Brian X. Foley

Brian X. Foley (born December 3, 1957) was a State Senator representing the 3rd District of the New York State Senate. He was elected to his first political office in 1993, representing the Seventh District in the Suffolk County Legislature. He was re-elected five times to the seat once held by his father, John Foley. In 2005, he was elected Supervisor for the Town of Brookhaven, New York. In 2008 he was elected to the State Senate, after defeating 36-year (18 term) incumbent Republican, Caesar Trunzo.   He was the first Democrat elected to the State Senate from Suffolk County since 1902.

Foley resides in his native Blue Point, New York with his wife and their two children.  A graduate of St. Anthony's High School, Foley continued his education at Saint Michael's College in Colchester, Vermont where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies.

He has served on the Brookhaven Roe YMCA Board of Directors, Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Advisory Board, Patchogue Chamber of Commerce, Suffolk County Community Mediation Center, Sunrise District Boy Scouts of America and the Suffolk County Coalition Against Domestic Violence. In 2004, the Bayport Blue Point Chamber of Commerce presented Foley with its Dedicated Public Service Award.  He has been recognized as Person of the Year by the Medford Youth Athletic Association Award in 2000 and the Farmingville Historical Society in 1999.

Marriage Equality Debate 2009
Brian X. Foley was seen as a key swing senate vote in the 2009 Marriage Equality debate in New York State. In April 2009, Governor
David Paterson announced that he would introduce a Marriage Equality bill in the New York State Legislature. Foley voted in favor of Marriage Equality legislation on December 2, 2009, but the bill was defeated.

MTA Bailout proposal
Foley supported an MTA bailout that included a controversial payroll tax on employers. Foley, had balked at the payroll tax because it affected school districts and would likely raise property taxes.

Foley eventually  agreed to support the MTA bailout;

2010 defeat
Foley was defeated by Republican Lee Zeldin on November 2, 2010.

Senator-Elect Zeldin received 57% of votes cast, defeating Brian Foley by 14 points.

See also
 2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis

References

Category:1957 births
Category:Living people
Category:People from Blue Point, New York
Category:New York (state) Democrats
Category:New York state senators
Category:21st-century American politicians