Paul
Tonko, president and CEO of the NYS Energy and Research Development
Authority (NYSERDA) was honored by the PEF Region 8 Political Action
Committee at its annual dinner meeting held December 11 in Albany.Tonko was the first PEF member to be elected to the NYS Assembly, serving there from 1983 to June of last year when Gov. Eliot Spitzer appointed him to head NYSERDA.
“We have always had a very good working relationship with him (Tonko),” said PEF Region 8 Coordinator Tom Comanzo. “We wanted to honor his years of service to the people of New York state and his years of membership in PEF.”
Born and raised in Amsterdam, Tonko earned a BS in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering from Clarkson University in 1971, and went to work for the state Transportation Department and later was a senior valuation engineer for the Department of Public Service until his election to the state Assembly in what is now the 105th District.
“He was always with us on our issues,” Comanzo said.
– Sherry Halbrook
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