Thomas Morahan
Encyclopedia
Thomas P. Morahan was a member of the New York State Senate
, for the 38th district covering all of Rockland County and parts of Orange County, New York
. He was first elected in a special election in 1999.
Morahan, after winning the November 4th elections, was serving his sixth term at the time of his death in 2010, though he had announced his retirement at the end of the term due to age and leukemia (which ultimately caused his death).
. The state senator began his political involvement in 1977, when he decided to run for Clarkstown Zoning Board of Appeals.
Three years later, he ran successfully as member of the 96th district of the New York State Assembly
. After serving a two-year turn, Morahan served for fifteen years on the Rockland County legislature. In 1999, he campaigned for position as New York State Senator for the 38th senatorial district. After winning, served five terms, and won reelection for a sixth term in 2008. While in political office, Morahan served on the Orange and Rockland Utilities Board as a Community Relations Manager, from 1990 to 1996.
Morahan was identified as a 'very liberal' Republican, within the 2% most liberal Republicans in the New York State Legislature.
and other issues. The state senator was also actively involved in Big Brothers, Big Sisters, as well as the New City Rotary Club. He served on the agricultural, educational, homeland security, and mental health commities. Morahan visited and supported veterans' organizations, specifically those of the Korean War
{where he served in the army} and the Second World War.
involving promoting awareness for citizens with special needs. He helped pass the Veterans' Buyback Law, which allowed veterans to easily deal with mortgages and retirement issues. He sponsored and voted for strengthening Sexual Assault
Laws, which increase the sentences for those charged with harassment
. He co-sponsored Jonathon's Law, which entitles parents and legal guardians access to all child abuse investigation files and medical history records. Public Safety programs were specifically of Morahan's interest, of which he seeks to pass more laws to solve important issues. He supports donating money to Nyack
Hospital for its Breast Cancer
Center, as well as Emergency Preparedness Training at Rockland Community College
. Morahan voted against same-sex marriage legislation on December 2, 2009, and the bill was defeated.
.
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
, for the 38th district covering all of Rockland County and parts of Orange County, New York
Orange County, New York
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley...
. He was first elected in a special election in 1999.
Morahan, after winning the November 4th elections, was serving his sixth term at the time of his death in 2010, though he had announced his retirement at the end of the term due to age and leukemia (which ultimately caused his death).
Life
Thomas Morahan was born in the Bronx. After graduating from High School, he attended Rockland Community CollegeRockland Community College
Rockland Community College is a two-year college in the State University of New York system, located in hamlet of Viola within the Village of Suffern from the Town of Ramapo in Rockland County, New York. The college began in 1959 in the former county almshouse. The college offers 48 programs and...
. The state senator began his political involvement in 1977, when he decided to run for Clarkstown Zoning Board of Appeals.
Three years later, he ran successfully as member of the 96th district of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
. After serving a two-year turn, Morahan served for fifteen years on the Rockland County legislature. In 1999, he campaigned for position as New York State Senator for the 38th senatorial district. After winning, served five terms, and won reelection for a sixth term in 2008. While in political office, Morahan served on the Orange and Rockland Utilities Board as a Community Relations Manager, from 1990 to 1996.
Morahan was identified as a 'very liberal' Republican, within the 2% most liberal Republicans in the New York State Legislature.
Organizations
Morahan was an active member in promoting avocations for citizens with mental disabilities. He was member of the American Organization for Retarded Citizens, which raises funds for solutions for autismAutism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
and other issues. The state senator was also actively involved in Big Brothers, Big Sisters, as well as the New City Rotary Club. He served on the agricultural, educational, homeland security, and mental health commities. Morahan visited and supported veterans' organizations, specifically those of the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
{where he served in the army} and the Second World War.
Legislation
Morahan sponsored and co-sponsored several pieces of legislationLegislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
involving promoting awareness for citizens with special needs. He helped pass the Veterans' Buyback Law, which allowed veterans to easily deal with mortgages and retirement issues. He sponsored and voted for strengthening Sexual Assault
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
Laws, which increase the sentences for those charged with harassment
Harassment
Harassment covers a wide range of behaviors of an offensive nature. It is commonly understood as behaviour intended to disturb or upset, and it is characteristically repetitive. In the legal sense, it is intentional behaviour which is found threatening or disturbing...
. He co-sponsored Jonathon's Law, which entitles parents and legal guardians access to all child abuse investigation files and medical history records. Public Safety programs were specifically of Morahan's interest, of which he seeks to pass more laws to solve important issues. He supports donating money to Nyack
Nyack
Nyack may refer to:*Nyack, New York, a village*Nyack College, located in the village*USS Nyack, the name of two U.S. Navy vessels...
Hospital for its Breast Cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
Center, as well as Emergency Preparedness Training at Rockland Community College
Rockland Community College
Rockland Community College is a two-year college in the State University of New York system, located in hamlet of Viola within the Village of Suffern from the Town of Ramapo in Rockland County, New York. The college began in 1959 in the former county almshouse. The college offers 48 programs and...
. Morahan voted against same-sex marriage legislation on December 2, 2009, and the bill was defeated.
Illness and death
Morahan died on July 12, 2010 at the age of 78. Prior to his death, he had fought a six-month battle with leukemiaLeukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
.