+ − Contact Information
Email Address: gallivan@nysenate.gov
Phone: (518) 455-3471
Fax: (518) 426-6949
Office Address:
947 LOB
Albany, NY 12247
+ − Biography
In November of 2010 Patrick Gallivan was elected as New York State Senator for the 59th District. During his first term in the State Senate, Senator Gallivan proved to be one of the most productive freshman senators in the state, drafting and introducing over 20 bills that would be signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo. Elected on a platform of reforming Albany and revitalizing the Western New York Economy, Senator Gallivan focused his first-term agenda on fiscal responsibility, economic development, strengthening the state’s vital agriculture industry, restoring honesty to government, and advocating on behalf of taxpayers, sportsmen, and small businesses. He played a central role in landmark accomplishments like the New York State property tax cap, ethics reform, UB 2020, real-time prescription drug tracking, and in crafting two consecutive budgets that closed multi-billion dollar deficits through shrinking state government, cutting taxes and reducing spending. Medicaid reform and mandate relief have also proven to be among the Senator’s top priorities. In September, 2011, Senator Gallivan drafted and introduced a transformational piece of Medicaid reform legislation to reform the broken and antiquated cost structure of Medicaid. His proposal would eliminate Medicaid’s mandate burden on local governments, allowing them to better operate within the property tax cap, protect vital services, and reduce property taxes on families and business. This legislation has received notoriety and widespread support from across the state and was partially included in the 2012-13 enacted State Budget. Gallivan has also authored legislation to reform onerous regulations on private business, like New York State’s burdensome and outdated “Scaffold Law”, and reform the State’s income tax structure by implementing an income tax cap. Prior to representing the citizens of Western New York in the Senate, Patrick Gallivan was twice-elected Sheriff of Erie County, serving as upstate New York’s most populous county’s chief law enforcement official from 1998 through 2005. Sheriff Gallivan was responsible for the oversight of county police and patrol services, the enforcement of civil process, ensuring courtroom security and the oversight of county jail management services. He supervised approximately 1,100 sworn and non-sworn employees and administered an approximately $80 million budget. As Sheriff, Gallivan authored and implemented a comprehensive six-point strategic plan, which charted the course for the professional, ethical, cost-effective and community-oriented delivery of criminal justice services by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office. He reorganized the agency and oversaw the merger of the Erie County Holding Center and the Erie County Correctional Facility, as well as the consolidation of Central Booking with the Buffalo Police Department. Sheriff Gallivan worked to increase efficiency and eliminate waste through the establishment of a Professional Standards Unit, an Internal Inspection Program, an Overtime Monitoring Program and a Sick Leave Program. His administrative reforms proved successful in reducing unnecessary overtime and abuse of sick leave. During his tenure, Gallivan also started Erie County’s first Computer Crime Unit, a Domestic Violence/Violence Prevention Division, a Juvenile Bureau, a Warrant Squad and a Technology/Advancement Division. Before being elected Sheriff, Gallivan served 15 years in the New York State Police, rising through the ranks from Trooper to Captain. He is a graduate of both the prestigious FBI National Executive Institute and the FBI National Academy, and is a past member of the New York State Executive Committee on Counter-Terrorism. Gallivan is also a small business owner, founding and operating a full service professional investigation and security firm. In addition, Gallivan, previously served as a Member of the New York State Board of Parole. Patrick Gallivan holds a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from the State University of New York at Albany and is a graduate of Canisius College in Buffalo. He has received numerous awards and honors for his long and distinguished service to the community and has served numerous professional, charitable, civic and fraternal organizations. He lives in Elma, NY with his wife, Mary Pat, and their two children, Jenna and Conor.