Paul Tonko

 Paul D. Tonko was appointed President and CEO of New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) on June 18, 2007 by the NYSERDA Board of Directors.  On April 26, 2008 he resigned his position in order to actively campaign for New York's 21^st Congressional District.  Prior to his appointment, Mr. Tonko served in the New York State Assembly, representing the 105^th Assembly District from April 0f 1983 to June of 2007.  Through his tenure, the district included all of Montgomery and Schoharie Counties and parts of Albany and Schenectady Counties. 

As age 26, he was the youngest person in the history of Montgomery County to be elected to the county's Board of Supervisors.  He served as chairman of that body until 1981.  Prior to his election to the Assembly in 1983, Mr. Tonko was an engineer in the New York State Department of Transportation and also served on the staff of the Department of Public Service. 

Mr. Tonko has gained a national reputation as an expert on energy and utility issues.  From 1992 to June 2007, Mr. Tonko served as chairman of the New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Energy.  In April of 2007, Mr. Tonko was called upon by the United State Congress to provide expert testimony before the Subcommittee on Domestic Policy, in relation to the Energy Policy Act of 2005.  In 2007 he was awarded the Solar Leadership Award by the New York  Solar Energy Industries Association.  

Mr. Tonko graduated from Clarkson University with a degree in mechanical and industrial engineering.  He is a lifelong resident of the city of Amsterdam, New York. 

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