Biography
Senator David J. Valesky was first elected to the New York State Senate in November 2004. He is currently the ranking Democratic member of the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and serves as a member of the Senate Standing Committees on Banks; Energy and Telecommunications; Health; Higher Education; Tourism, Recreation & Sports Development; and, Transportation.
Born and raised in Oneida, Senator Valesky received his Bachelor’s degree from SUNY Potsdam and his Master’s degree from the University of Connecticut. As the son and husband of public school teachers and the father of public school students, Senator Valesky strongly supports a quality public education system that provides every child with an opportunity to succeed.
Senator Valesky has been serving his community throughout his professional career. He began his public service by working in the State Assembly as an aide to former State Assembly Majority Leader Michael Bragman, from 1989 to 1995. While in this position, he gained a thorough working knowledge of the legislative process and helped to develop state and local policies to make government more accessible to New Yorkers.
From 1995 through 2004, Senator Valesky dedicated his efforts to the education and enrichment of the lives of Central New Yorkers through his work in public television and radio as Vice-President of Communications at WCNY. He also became recognized as host of the midday talk show HOUR CNY, which focuses on current state, national and world events and issues which affect Central New York communities.
Senator Valesky’s top priority is to serve the people of Central New York by providing the highest quality constituent service. One of his primary goals is to reform state government in Albany in order to move the region and state forward. As a member of the Senate Democratic Task Force on Legislative and Budgetary Reform, he is devoted to making the legislative process more open, democratic, transparent and accountable to New York’s citizens.
Senator Valesky served as a member of the Temporary Commission on the Future of New York State Power Programs, and the Senate Task Force on Technology Utilization. Currently, he is a member of the Legislative Commission on Rural Resources.
During his first term in office Senator Valesky was named "Freshman Legislator of the Year" by the New York School Boards Association for his focus on education. He was also named to the Farm Bureau "Circle of Friends" in 2005 and 2006, and honored for Arts Leadership by the Central New York Community Arts Council.
Senator Valesky lives in the Madison County city of Oneida with his wife Julie and their three sons - Brian, Nathan, and Steven.