A native of Big Flats and a 1991 graduate of Horseheads High School, he completed a Bachelor of Surgery in chemistry at the University of New Hampshire before earning Master"s and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in chemistry at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
He is a Republican and represents parts of Schuyler and Chemung Counties. He was named a National Science Foundation IGERT Fellow and has published more than 20 scientific papers and symposia. In 2006, he was elected to the Chemung County Legislature.
The seat had become vacant after former Assemblyman Tom O"Mara ran successfully for the New York State Senate.
