a Representative from New York; born in Amsterdam, Montgomery County, N.Y., June 18, 1949; graduated from Amsterdam High School, Amsterdam, N.Y., 1967; B.S., Clarkson University, Potsdam, N.Y., 1971; public works engineer; state transportation agency employee; member of the Montgomery County, N.Y. board of supervisors, 1976-1983; chairman, Montgomery County, N.Y. board of supervisors, 1981; member of the New York state assembly, 1983-2007; president, New York state energy research and development authority, 2007-2008; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Eleventh and to the seven succeeding Congresses (January 3, 2009-present).