Preceded by Dale Rath Name David Gantt Political party Democratic | Profession Politician Party Democratic Party Website Assembly Website | |
Born September 12, 1941 (age 83)
Rochester, New York ( 1941-09-12 ) Residence Rochester, New York, United States | ||
Education Roberts Wesleyan College | ||
David F. Gantt (born September 12, 1941) is a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly representing the 137th Assembly District, which includes the northeast and southwest sections of the city of Rochester and the suburban town of Gates. Prior to redistricting that took effect in 2012, Gantt district was numbered the 133rd, comprising an area which was largely the same.
Contents
- Early life and career
- Monroe County Legislature
- New York State Assembly
- Traffic enforcement cameras
- House Foreclosed for Back Taxes
- References
Early life and career
Gantt was born on September 12, 1941, in Rochester, New York He attended Franklin High School, Roberts Wesleyan College and the Rochester Institute of Technology. He has worked as youth counselor for the City of Rochester, as a member of Lithographers & Photoengravers International Union Local 230, and as an administrator at the Anthony L. Jordan Health Center.
Monroe County Legislature
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Gantt served for nine years as a Monroe County legislator representing the 22nd Legislative District, which includes parts of Rochester's Group 14621, Marketview Heights and CONEA neighborhoods.
New York State Assembly
Gantt initiated the federal redistricting lawsuit which resulted in the creation of the 133rd New York State Assembly District, and has represented that district, now renumbered to the 137th, since his election in 1982. He ran uncontested in the November 2008 and November 2010 general elections.
Gantt currently serves as Chairman of the Committee on Transportation. He is a member of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus, the Committee on Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry, the Committee on Local Governments, the Committee on Rules, and the Committee on Ways and Means.
Traffic enforcement cameras
As Chairman of the Assembly's Committee on Transportation, Gantt has blocked New York City efforts to install cameras for bus lane enforcement.
Gantt has a history of opposing red-light and anti-speeding cameras, telling The Buffalo News in 2007: "If you do this, what's next? Then people will want cameras to do other things . . . It’s the old Big Brother watching."
In 2008 though Gantt introduced a bill authorizing statewide use of traffic enforcement cameras, but so narrowly worded as to only permit cameras distributed by CMA Consulting Services. According to reports, CMA paid $80,000 to Robert Scott Gaddy, a Gantt friend and former staff member, to lobby for the bill.
House Foreclosed for Back Taxes
The City of Rochester now owns 489 Central Park. The property was purchased by New York State Assemblyman David Gantt in 1985, according to records on file with the Monroe County Clerk's Office. The property was seized in foreclosure proceedings after Gantt failed to pay $720.36 in property taxes that were nearly two years overdue. Gantt and his property were named on a "List of Delinquent Taxes" published in July 2013 and a lawyer for the City of Rochester explained that the designation applies to property owners who are more than a year overdue on their taxes.
489 Central Park is assessed at just $20,000 and Gantt's tax debt is $720.36. Gantt earns about $80,000 in base salary as a New York State Assemblyman excluding additional compensation for assignments to various committees. In 2011 Gantt was allowed to legally "retire" and begin collection a pension of more than $71,000 each year in addition to collecting his salary as an Assemblyman. In state compensation alone Gantt annually collects more than $150,000.