Background
He was re-elected five times to the seat once held by his father, John Foley.
politician member of the New York State Senate
He was re-elected five times to the seat once held by his father, John Foley.
He was elected to his first political office in 1993, representing the Seventh District in the Suffolk County Legislature. In 2005, he was elected Supervisor for the Town of Brookhaven, New New York In 2008 he was elected to the State Senate, after defeating 36-year (18 term) incumbent Republican, Caesar Trunzo.
He was the first Democrat elected to the State Senate from Suffolk County since 1902.
A graduate of Saint Anthony"s High School, Foley continued his education at Saint Michael"s College in Colchester, Vermont where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies. He has served on the Brookhaven Roe Young Men’s Christian Association Board of Directors, Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Advisory Board, Patchogue Chamber of Commerce, Suffolk County Community Mediation Center, Sunrise District Boy Scouts of America and the Suffolk County Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
In 2004, the Bayport Blue Point Chamber of Commerce presented Foley with its Dedicated Public Service Award. Foley was seen as a key swing senate vote in the 2009 Marriage Equality debate in New York State.
In April 2009, Government. David Paterson announced that he would introduce a Marriage Equality bill in the New York State Legislature.
Foley voted in favor of Marriage Equality legislation on December 2, 2009, but the bill was defeated. Foley supported an MTA bailout that included a controversial payroll tax on employers. Foley, had balked at the payroll tax because it affected school districts and would likely raise property taxes.
Foley eventually agreed to support the MTA bailout.
Foley was defeated by Republican Lee Zeldin on November 2, 2010. Senator-Elect Zeldin received 57% of votes cast, defeating Brian Foley by 14 points.