[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 132 (Tuesday, December 5, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2080-E2081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING NYS ASSEMBLY MAJORITY LEADER PAUL A. TOKASZ

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 5, 2006

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to commemorate the career in 
public service of an outstanding representative of the residents of 
Western New York--retiring New York State Assembly Majority Leader Paul 
A. Tokasz.
  Paul Tokasz served honorably as Member of Assembly in the 143rd 
District from the time of his initial election in a special election in 
1988 to this very day. Paul will end his service in the State Assembly 
at the end of this year.

[[Page E2081]]

  A graduate of Hobart and Buffalo State Colleges, Paul began his 
career in public service as a Buffalo Public School teacher. After 
teaching elementary school for several years, Paul was elected Clerk of 
the Erie County Legislature, and later accepted appointment as a Deputy 
County Clerk in the administrations of the late Genevieve Starociak and 
current County Clerk David J. Swarts.
  In early 1988, following the November 1987 election of then-
Assemblyman Dennis T. Gorski as Erie County Executive, Paul became a 
candidate for the open seat in the 143rd Assembly District. Paul 
handily won election in 1988, was re-elected later that year, and never 
again faced a serious challenge for re-election.
  We know why he never faced a serious challenge--because Paul was and 
is an outstanding public servant, a capable and effective Member of 
``the people's house,'' who steadfastly defended Western New York while 
in service in Albany.
  Over the years, Paul earned several important committee posts, 
including the chairmanship of the Assembly's committees on Election 
Law, where under Paul's leadership a state constitutional amendment was 
adopted to implement the 1993 federal ``Motor Voter'' law. Paul also 
chaired the Assembly's committee on Tourism, Arts and Sports 
Development, where he emerged as a statewide leader and an advocate for 
cultural tourism, particularly as it impacted Western New York, and his 
advocacy in increasing opportunities for cultural institutions to gain 
access to State capital funds as a means of expanding economic 
development in local communities.
  The apex of Paul's Assembly career coincided with his ascension into 
the Assembly's formal leadership structure, culminating in his January 
2001 appointment by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver as Majority Leader. 
As Majority Leader, Paul assumed responsibility for directing the day-
to-day operations of the legislative session in the Assembly chamber, 
serving as floor leader, setting the daily agenda, and overseeing 
debate and voting on all legislation coming before the house. As 
someone who served under Paul as a rank-and-file member for 4 of my 6 
years, I was witness to the tremendous skill and dignity he displayed 
in that role. Simply put, Paul performed remarkably in that role.
  Speaking on a personal level, when I came to the State Assembly as a 
freshman member in 1999, Paul was someone I sought out immediately as a 
person with a tremendous amount of institutional knowledge--as someone 
with 10 years of seniority, Paul clearly had knowledge of the 
institution of the State Legislature that I did not myself possess. 
Paul was a tremendous help to me as I gained an understanding of the 
inner workings of Albany, and I have always credited his help and 
guidance as of critical importance.
  In 2004, when New York's 27th District seat in Congress suddenly came 
open, Paul and I were both potential candidates. As days wore on, Paul 
and I met, and he soon offered me his unconditional support. Paul co-
chaired my successful election campaign in 2004, and has been an ally 
and a friend as I have sought to effectively represent Western New York 
in Congress.
  Paul has a great many accomplishments about which to be proud, but 
knowing him as I do, Paul takes no greater pride in any of his personal 
accomplishments than that which concerns his family. Paul and his 
Sylvia are parents of three outstanding adult children, Kristie, 
Jennifer, and Andrew. Paul and Sylvia also rightly take tremendous 
pride in their three grandchildren, Jacob and Bradley Kantor and Sydney 
Tokasz. To his immense credit, Paul's decision to retire from public 
service at such a relatively young age was undertaken out of his 
sincere desire to spend more time with his family.
  Paul Tokasz is a tremendous example of a dedicated, effective public 
servant, and I was and remain proud to call him a governmental 
colleague. More to the point, I am prouder still to call Paul Tokasz my 
friend. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in wishing Paul, 
Sylvia and their entire family good luck and Godspeed in all of their 
future endeavors.

                          ____________________