John D. Caemmerer
Encyclopedia
John D. Caemmerer was a New York State Senator representing what is now the 7th Senatorial District in northwestern Nassau County, New York
.
. He was educated in local public schools prior to attending Xavier High School
in Manhattan
and later Notre Dame University and St. John's Law School. Prior to serving as a State Senator Caemmerer had served as Deputy Town Attorney for the Town of North Hempstead as well as Village Attorney for the Incorporated Village of Williston Park. Both before and after being elected to the New York State Senate Caemmerer was a principal in the law firms, Pratt, Caemmerer, & Cleary and later Farrell, Fritz, Caemmerer, Cleary, Barnosky, & Armentano. During this time Caemmerer served as a local Republican
Leader and eventually North Hempstead Republican Committee Chairman from 1966 - 1972 in the Nassau County Republican Committee.
's ruling in regards to "one man, one vote" decision. Caemmerer first served as the Chairman of the State Senate's Committee on Villages and Local Government. After the death of State Senator Edward J. Speno, Caemmerer became Chairman of the Senate's Committee on Transportation in 1972. Caemmerer served in this capacity until his death in February 1982. While Chairman Caemmerer worked to increase penalties on drunk drivers while lowering the maximum allowable blood alcohol content
from .15 to eventually .10 in New York State. Caemmerer was also one of the first New York State Legislators to propose a mandatory seatbelt law in the state. Caemmerer was also involved in the first MTA capital plan for New York State. Many in the Senate feel that Caemmerer's crowning achievement was the passage of the child seat law in 1981. Caemmerer served in the Senate and as Chair of the Transportation Committee until his death from cancer in February 1982.
The Long Island Rail Road
's West Side Yard
was officially named the John D. Caemmerer West Side Yard because Caemmerer obtained funding to construct the facility.
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
.
Early Life & Career
John Caemmerer was born and raised in the Village of Williston ParkWilliston Park, New York
Williston Park is an incorporated village in Nassau County, New York in the United States. The population was 7,287 at the 2010 census.The Village of Williston Park is in the Town of North Hempstead.-Geography:...
. He was educated in local public schools prior to attending Xavier High School
Xavier High School (New York City)
Xavier High School is a independent Jesuit university-preparatory high school for young men located at 30 West 16th Street, in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It was founded in 1847, as the College of St. Francis Xavier by Father John Larkin, S.J...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and later Notre Dame University and St. John's Law School. Prior to serving as a State Senator Caemmerer had served as Deputy Town Attorney for the Town of North Hempstead as well as Village Attorney for the Incorporated Village of Williston Park. Both before and after being elected to the New York State Senate Caemmerer was a principal in the law firms, Pratt, Caemmerer, & Cleary and later Farrell, Fritz, Caemmerer, Cleary, Barnosky, & Armentano. During this time Caemmerer served as a local Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Leader and eventually North Hempstead Republican Committee Chairman from 1966 - 1972 in the Nassau County Republican Committee.
State Senate Tenure
Caemmerer was first elected to the New York State Senate in a special election in 1965 following the Supreme CourtSupreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
's ruling in regards to "one man, one vote" decision. Caemmerer first served as the Chairman of the State Senate's Committee on Villages and Local Government. After the death of State Senator Edward J. Speno, Caemmerer became Chairman of the Senate's Committee on Transportation in 1972. Caemmerer served in this capacity until his death in February 1982. While Chairman Caemmerer worked to increase penalties on drunk drivers while lowering the maximum allowable blood alcohol content
Blood alcohol content
Blood alcohol content , also called blood alcohol concentration, blood ethanol concentration, or blood alcohol level is most commonly used as a metric of alcohol intoxication for legal or medical purposes....
from .15 to eventually .10 in New York State. Caemmerer was also one of the first New York State Legislators to propose a mandatory seatbelt law in the state. Caemmerer was also involved in the first MTA capital plan for New York State. Many in the Senate feel that Caemmerer's crowning achievement was the passage of the child seat law in 1981. Caemmerer served in the Senate and as Chair of the Transportation Committee until his death from cancer in February 1982.
The Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
's West Side Yard
West Side Yard
The West Side Yard is a rail yard owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on the west side of Manhattan in New York City...
was officially named the John D. Caemmerer West Side Yard because Caemmerer obtained funding to construct the facility.