Biography
During his years in the Senate, Senator Martin Connor has fought against efforts to dismantle New York's health care system, and has opposed proposals to cut vital medical care and other human services for children, the elderly and disabled. He has also battled to keep higher education affordable and accessible for low and middle-income families and was instrumental in the creation of a State college tuition savings program and tuition tax credit.
Marty Connor has been a long-time leader in the struggle for non-discrimination on account of sexual orientation and has championed legislation for equal legal rights for the LGBT community.
He has steadfastly defended the right of women to choice in reproductive matters and has fought for laws to support the needs of New York’s working families.
Although he has served in the Democratic Minority in the Senate, Marty Connor has successfully garnered bipartisan support for his legislative proposals. He is the author of over one hundred laws, including the New York City School Bus Safety act, the Lower Manhattan Revitalization Law, Civil Service laws protecting religious observers, and important consumer rights laws.
Marty Connor has been a leading advocate for progressive reforms of the legislative process to end Albany’s secretive ways and to open the lawmaking process to public scrutiny.
In 2007 the Legislature adopted a new Ethics Law banning legislators from accepting all gifts and meals from lobbyists – a measure advocated years before by Senator Connor, who had long personally observed a voluntary ban on such practices.
Senator Connor has been a vigorous supporter for the advancement of human rights and has worked to address issues of concern to women and minorities. He has been a progressive leader in the battle for electoral reforms that will make it easier for New Yorkers to participate in the political process, reduce the influence of special interest money in campaigns, and provide a level political playing field.
In the area of consumer protection, Senator Connor has received national notice for his efforts to regulate the use of fragrance samples in magazines.
During all of his years in the Senate, Marty Connor fought for a school aid formula that was fair to New York City’s public schools and supported the lawsuit to attain that goal. In 2006 and 2007 the Legislature finally implemented the court decision resulting in billions of dollars in additional school aid and school construction funding for our City’s schools.
Senator Connor served as Minority Leader for eight years, during which his advocacy produced bipartisan cooperation that resulted in a tougher gun control law, hate crimes legislation, the elimination of sales tax on clothing and footwear, an increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit, and laws to enable more seniors to participate in the Elderly Pharmaceutical Drug Program.
Born in Trenton, New Jersey, Senator Connor attended parochial schools, graduating first in his class from Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. In 1967, he graduated from the Catholic University of America with a B.A. in Politics, and in 1970, received his law degree from the Catholic University of America School of Law, where he served as an editor of the Law Review. During law school, Senator Connor worked part-time in the Office of the General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, and later, as law clerk to the House Counsel of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Between 1970 and 1974, Senator Connor was associated with White & Case, a large Wall Street law firm, where he practiced corporate and anti-trust law. In 1974, he joined the Office of the General Counsel of Xerox Corporation where he practiced anti-trust law. From 1975 to 1977, Senator Connor maintained a law practice in Brooklyn, but left private practice when he was appointed an Assistant Counsel to the State Comptroller. He resigned that position upon his election to the Senate.
A resident of Brooklyn Heights, Senator Connor is married to Christine Silber. He is the proud father of three.