Angelo Santabarbara

Early life and career

Angelo Santabarbara is a first generation Italian-American born and continues to reside in Schenectady County in the town of Rotterdam, New York with his wife and 2 children. Santabarbara graduated from Schalmont High School in 1990. and was inducted into the Schalmont High School Alumni Wall of Distinction in 2010.

Santabarbara served in the United States Army Reserves for eight years with an honorable discharge in 1998, and has remained involved with local veterans organizations and is the founder of the first AMVETS Post in his hometown of Rotterdam. He serves as the first Commander of AMVETS.

He attended the State University of New York at Albany where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree and became a Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of New York.

Santabarbara worked as a Civil Engineer for more than 15 years before taking office in the New York State Assembly. He also served as President of the Capital District Chapter of the New York State Society of Professional Engineers.

Santabarbara served on the Board of Directors for the Autism Society of the Greater Capital Region. He is also the owner and founder of the Santabarbara Cheese Company, a not-for-profit which benefits children's charities in New York's Capital district.

Political career

Santabarbara was elected to the Schenectady County Legislature in 2007 to represent District 4, which includes the Towns of Rotterdam, Princetown and Duanesburg. Originally a Republican, he switched to the Democratic Party at the end of 2009.

Santabarbara unsuccessfully challenged two term incumbent George Amedore for the 105th District of the New York State Assembly in 2010. Angelo was re-elected to the Schenectady County Legislature in 2011 and served as Chairman of the Transportation Committee and Vice Chairman of the Veterans Committee. He held public office as a Schenectady County Legislator for 5 years.

Angelo Santabarbara defeated Thomas Quackenbush in 2012 and was elected to the New York State Assembly as the first Assemblyman to represent the newly created 111th District, including Montgomery, Schenectady and Albany Counties. He was reelected to a second term in 2014 and a third term in 2016, defeating Peter Vroman both times. The 111th Assembly District includes much of the same territory as the previous 105th Assembly District.

As a member of the New York State Assembly he serves on the Agriculture, Energy, Governmental Employees,Mental Health, Racing & Wagering, and Veterans' Affairs committees while also serving as Chair of the Mental Health Committee's Subcommittee on Autism Spectrum Disorder.