Joseph Morelle

Joseph D. "Joe" Morelle (born 1957) is a New York State assemblyman, representing the 132nd Assembly District, which includes eastern portions of the City of Rochester and the Monroe County suburbs of Irondequoit and Brighton.

Early years

Morelle 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 the State University College at Geneseo. Morelle is an inductee of both the Eastridge High School Hall of Fame and the State University of New York Alumni Honor Roll. He currently resides in Irondequoit with his wife, Mary Beth and their three children.

In his early years, his occupation was that of a sales manager for a dry cleaning and laundry business.Citation | publication-date = 1990-11-07 | title = Morelle Narrowly Wins Over Ogden | periodical = Democrat and Chronicle | publication-place = Rochester, New York | pages = 8A

County legislature

Morelle, a Democrat, made his first foray into politics at the age of 24 when he ran for a seat in the Monroe County legislature.Citation | publication-date = 1981-11-04 | title = GOP Keeps Control of County Legislature | periodical = Democrat and Chronicle | publication-place = Rochester, New York | pages = 2A He failed to unseat the incumbent on the first try, but prevailed in the 1983 election.Citation | publication-date = 1983-11-09 | title = Democrats Gain 2 Seats in Legislature | periodical = Democrat and Chronicle | publication-place = Rochester, New York | pages = 3A He was re-elected once before setting his sights on the New York State legislature.Citation | publication-date = 1987-11-04 | title = Morelle Defeats His Challenger | periodical = Democrat and Chronicle | publication-place = Rochester, New York | pages = 3A

tate legislature

During his tenure in the State Legislature, Morelle has made economic development and expanding employment opportunities his top priority. Among the more than 75 laws authored by Morelle are major reforms to the workers compensation system. Morelle also penned 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 homes or receive home based health care, 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.

Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle on Wednesday agreed to plead guilty to two counts of disorderly conduct for violations of campaign rules in 1990 rather than to the misdemeanor charges of campaign fraud that were filed originally.

His plea on two counts of disorderly conduct could result in up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. The Irondequoit Democrat was accused of illegally obtaining petition signatures by allowing several area residents to sign for their relatives. In Irondequoit Town Court, Morelle's attorney, Lawrence Andolina, said Morelle accepted a plea bargain offered by Monroe County District Attorney Howard R. Relin. Pleading guilty to the violations will not give Morelle a criminal record. [Buffalo News 1992]

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. Morelle has lent his support to the Garth Fagan Dance, the Memorial Art Gallery, Susan B. Anthony House, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the George Eastman House, Strong Museum, Rochester Museum and Science Center and the Rochester City Ballet.

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.Citation | publication-date = 2005-05-27 | title = Morelle Officially Seeks Chair | periodical = Democrat and Chronicle | publication-place = Rochester, New York | pages = 2A

In 2007, Morelle made an unsuccessful attempt at the New York State Comptroller's position. Morelle stepped down as chairman of the Monroe County Democratic Committee. "I believe that I am truly the best-qualified candidate for Comptroller and that I can better serve our party, community and state as a greater voice for our region in Albany." [dfarochester] The Assembly later went on to select Thomas DiNapoli the next Comptroller. Many insiders noted that Morelle's lack of recognition and clout with the downstate factions led to his demise. Still others claim that his "non record" elections fraud came back to haunt him in the face of the Hevesi scandal. Many Democrats weren't ready to trade one scandal for another potential scandal.

Shortly after in 2007, Morelle was unanimously re-elected the County chairman position he left only a short time before. Some critics wondered why he even left in the first place after having no chance at a position largely coveted by downstate support. He also received a chairmanship of the Insurance Committee some say as a parting gift by Sheldon Silver.

Mr. Morelle also sponsored New York State legislation that ended scalping laws in New York State after taking $8,500 dollars in campaign contributions from second party ticket vendors.Citation | publication-date = 2007-03-23 | title = Pols got big bux from tix sellers | periodical = The New York Daily News | url = http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/03/23/2007-03-23_pols_got_big_bux_from_tix_sellers-1.html | accessdate = 2008-07-21

External links

*http://morelle.com
* [http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=132&submit=Go Official Assembly page]

References