Toby Ann Stavisky

Toby Ann Stavisky
Stavisky in 2012
Member of the New York State Senate from the 16th district
Incumbent
Assumed office November 3, 1999
Preceded by	Leonard P. Stavisky
Personal details
Born	Toby Ann Goldhaar New York City
Political party	Democratic
Website	www.nysenate.gov/senator/toby-ann-stavisky

Toby Ann Stavisky (née Toby Ann Goldhaar) represents the 16th district in the New York State Senate which comprises the Queens neighborhoods of Bay Terrace, Bayside, Beechhurst, Clearview Gardens, Flushing, Rego Park, Forest Hills, Hillcrest, Elmhurst, Electchester, Pomonok, Queensboro Hill, Whitestone, Woodside, Mitchell Linden, Fresh Meadows, and Oakland Gardens.

Toby Ann Stavisky, the first woman from Queens County elected to the State Senate and the first woman to Chair the Senate Committee on Higher Education, is a native New Yorker who was born and raised on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. She attended New York City public schools before graduating from Bronx High School of Science, and Syracuse University, which she attended on an academic scholarship. The Senator completed graduate courses at Hunter and Queens Colleges.

After working in the actuarial department of a major insurance company, Mrs. Stavisky taught Social Studies in the New York City high schools. She served as district manager in Northeast Queens for the Census, where she directed more than 1,000 field and office staff and was cited by the Commerce Department for her outstanding work. In the community, Senator Stavisky has been involved in a wide array of activities on such issues as better schools, improved programs for older adults, social justice, opportunities for New Americans, and assisting small business.

From 2003 to 2008, Senator Stavisky served as Assistant Minority Whip and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on Higher Education. In 2009-10 she was Chairwoman of the Committee on Higher Education. Currently she holds a leadership position in the Senate as Assistant Democratic Leader and Ranking Minority Member on the Senate's Committee on Higher Education.