John Bonacic Explained

John J. Bonacic
State Senate:New York State
District:42nd
Term Start:January 1, 2003
Term End:December 31, 2018
Preceded:Neil Breslin
Succeeded:Jen Metzger
State Senate2:New York State
District2:40th
Term Start2:January 1, 1999
Term End2:December 31, 2002
Preceded2:Charles D. Cook
Succeeded2:Vincent Leibell
Office3:Member of the New York State Assembly from the 95th district
Term Start3:January 1, 1993
Term End3:December 31, 1998
Predecessor3:Nancy Calhoun
Successor3:Howard Mills III
Office4:Member of the New York State Assembly from the 94th district
Term Start4:February 20, 1990
Term End4:December 31, 1992
Predecessor4:Mary M. McPhillips
Successor4:Nancy Calhoun
Birth Date:14 June 1942
Birth Place:New York City, New York, U.S.
Spouse:Pat Bonacic
Alma Mater:Iona College (B.A.)
Fordham University (J.D.)
Residence:Mount Hope, New York
Signature:John Bonacic Signature.png
Website:Official website
Party:Republican

John J. Bonacic (born June 14, 1942 in New York City) is a retired politician from New York. A Republican, Bonacic represented New York State Senate District 42 (which includes all or parts of Delaware, Sullivan, Orange, and Ulster Counties) from November 1998 to 2018. Prior to his Senate service, Bonacic served in the New York State Assembly.

Personal life and education

Bonacic's grandparents were immigrants from Croatia.[1] [2] He received his Bachelor of Arts from Iona College in 1964, majoring in Economics. He received his JD at Fordham University School of Law in 1968.

Political career

On February 20, 1990, Bonacic was elected to the New York State Assembly, to fill the vacancy caused by the election of Mary M. McPhillips as Orange County Executive.[3] Bonacic was re-elected four times and remained in the Assembly until 1998, sitting in the 188th, 189th, 190th, 191st and 192nd New York State Legislatures. In November 1998, he was elected to the New York State Senate.

Bonacic, a Republican, was the Chair of the Senate Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee.[4] He sponsored a bill that would legalize online poker.[5] He supported the opening of a casino in Sullivan County, New York.[6]

While Bonacic cast a procedural vote against a 2013 bill that would have expanded abortion rights,[7] he expressed support for the Reproductive Health Act in 2016. At a January 25, 2016 gathering of abortion advocates in Albany, the Senator commented, "'Both my daughter and my bride of 50 years believe in pro-choice and we should never deprive women of access of health care that they choose and their medical providers say is best for them.'"[8] In 2015, Bonacic introduced a bill to legalize physician-assisted suicide.[9]

In 2011, Bonacic voted against allowing same-sex marriage in New York in a roll-call vote on the Marriage Equality Act, which passed in a close 33-29 vote.

On May 6, 2018, Bonacic announced that he would not seek re-election in November 2018.[10]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Statement by Senator John Bonacic. NYSenate.gov. 9 March 2011. February 5, 2012.
  2. http://www.dnevno.hr/magazin/lifestyle/los_pr_u_dijaspori__koje_su_svjetski_poznate_osobe_podrijetlom_hrvati_a_da_to_niste_ni_znali/1142313.html Dnevno.hr
  3. https://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/21/nyregion/metro-datelines-3-assembly-victors-favor-death-penalty.html 3 Assembly Victors Favor Death Penalty
  4. Web site: 3 NY Senate Republicans drop re-election bids in 3 days. The Poughkeepsie Journal.
  5. Web site: NY casinos make pitch for online poker. lohud.com.
  6. Web site: City & State - John Bonacic on casino expansion . cityandstateny.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180108180257/http://cityandstateny.com/27/all-videos/policy/john-bonacic.html . 2018-01-08.
  7. Web site: Abortion stalemate: NY women's rights bills die, for now, in Albany. Teri. Weaver. 22 June 2013. syracuse.com.
  8. Web site: John Bonacic becomes first New York GOP senator to support improving state's abortion rights law. Glenn. Blain. nydailynews.com. 25 January 2016 .
  9. Web site: Report: GOP NY senator introduces physician-assisted suicide bill. Teri. Weaver. 5 June 2015. syracuse.com.
  10. Web site: Reynolds. Hugh. A farewell to John Bonacic. Hudson Valley One. 6 May 2018. Ulster Publishing. 6 May 2018.